The National Federation Party calls on the Fiji Police Force to take immediate action and investigate Fijian Teachers Association General Secretary, Paula Manumanunitoga.
NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad strongly condemns the racist and threatening statements published on facebook by Manumanunitoga, in which he questioned the right of fellow Fijians to belong in this country and threatened to catch people and roast them in earth ovens.
Professor Prasad describes the statements as disgraceful, dangerous and potentially criminal.
He says the party’s assistant general secretary Apenisa Vatuniveivuke will lodge a complaint at the Totogo Police Station this morning.
He says this is racial hatred accompanied by threats of horrific violence.
Professor Prasad says it is absolutely reprehensible that such language should come from the General Secretary of an organisation representing teachers, who are entrusted with educating our children and shaping the values of future generations.
The NFP Leader says Manumanunitoga must understand that Indo-Fijians are not foreigners in this country.
He says they are not guests, and they are not here on anyone’s sufferance.
Professor Prasad says their ancestors helped build this nation, and generations of their people have called Fiji home.
Professor Prasad says they are Fijians, and nobody has the right to tell them otherwise.
Professor Prasad says respect for traditional chiefs must never be exploited to justify racial intimidation or threats of violence against other communities.
He adds the chiefs deserve respect, and the NFP has always advocated that chiefs have a place in our society but, their standing in our society cannot become an excuse for threatening fellow citizens.
The NFP believes the statements warrant urgent investigation under Section 17 of the Public Order Act 1969, concerning incitement of racial antagonism, and Sections 65(2) and 375 of the Crimes Act 2009, concerning communal antagonism and criminal intimidation respectively.
He is calling upon the Commissioner of Police to investigate these statements immediately and lay criminal charges against Manumanunitoga where the evidence establishes an offence.
He adds the FTA must also recognise the seriousness of having its General Secretary publicly associated with such statements.
The NFP Leader says those occupying positions of leadership in our educational institutions and professional organisations must be held to the highest standards of responsibility.
Professor Prasad says Fiji had endured enough racial division, intimidation and political upheaval, and warned against allowing such prejudices to become normalised in public discourse.
He says no Fijian should have to defend their right to belong in the country of their birth.
We sought comments from Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, the Police, the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission and the Online Safety Commission yesterday.
Only the Online Safety Commission said they were assessing the comments.
Others are yet to respond.
