Fiji Women's Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali says they have raised the issue about convicted rapists and former National 7s players Amenoni Nasilasila and Nacanieli Labalaba being allowed to play in local 7s tournaments four times now but nothing has been done about it.
While speaking at the “If Women Stop, The World Stops” concert today, Ali says it seems it is rugby over rape.
She says both players have been glorified despite not even completing a third of their sentence.
Ali says unfortunately they have been lambasted so much on social media by women who are calling for the 2 players to be given a chance.
We had sent questions to the Fiji Corrections Service however they have still not responded.
In 2019, the Fiji Corrections Service Director of Rehabilitation Senior Superintendent Salote Panapasa told us that Nasilasila was undergoing the relevant rehabilitation program.
She had said that once Nasilasila undergoes all the relevant treatment programs then they will commence his reintegration process.
However Ali says they have gone through the policy on rehabilitation and inmates have to serve almost two thirds of their sentence before they could qualify for rehabilitation.
She is also calling on the Constitutional Offices Commission to look into the matter as they employ the Commissioner for Fiji Corrections Service.
According to the Constitution, the Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner is appointed by the President of Fiji.
The Constitution also states that the Constitutional Offices Commission is responsible for providing advice to the President for the appointment of the Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service.
