Aiyaz playing political games, misleading the public & attempting to pressure the Army Commander to invoke his powers - AG

Attorney General, Siromi Turaga has attacked FijiFirst Party General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, saying his statement over the weekend was a fear-mongering exercise designed to disempower our citizens, weaken investor confidence, incite instability and create anxiety.

Turaga says Sayed-Khaiyum is playing political games with half truths to mislead the public and attempt to pressure the Army Commander to invoke his powers under section 131 of the Constitution.

He says Sayed-Khaiyum made baseless allegations based on unnamed sources which is no better than gossip.

The Attorney General reminds Sayed-Khaiyum that the government belongs to the people and it is not the property of the two men government that ruled by fear since 2006.

Turaga also stresses that the coalition government will continue to respect the constitution and follow the rule of law.

The Attorney General says on Saturday, Sayed-Khaiyum attempted to lecture the nation on the rule of law and the 2013 Constitution.

Turaga says he encourages Sayed-Khaiyum to file a constitutional redress application to prove his accusation that the coalition government has continuously breached the Constitution since coming into power.

He stresses that in his view, Sayed-Khaiyum’s accusations hold no water. He says Sayed-Khaiyum is not the Shadow Attorney General and perhaps Faiyaz Koya should have stepped forward rather than being forced to flank another MP who had lost his parliamentary seat after attending the Constitutional Offices Commission meeting.

Turaga says no one has ever commented on the fact that the Leader of the Opposition, Voreqe Bainimarama had said Sayed-Khaiyum would remain on the Constitutional Offices Commission and lead the FijiFirst’s efforts outside parliament.

He says later Sayed-Khaiyum had to resign from the Commission to remain as the General Secretary of the party as required under the laws of the country.

Turaga says it is unfortunate that the FijiFirst has refused the hands of friendship offered across the floor of parliament by Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka and instead choose to go down the road of combative relationship.

Sayed-Khaiyum is currently being questioned by the CID. We will seek his comments when he comes out.