The Fiji Human Rights Commission has unfortunately gone outside its jurisdiction with regards to its role as the protectors of human rights in the country.
The SDL party's National Director, Peceli Kinivuwai said the FHRC in its submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, has shown its bias.
In its submissions, the Commission also recommends that political parties which promote racist speeches, policies and programs can be prohibited from taking part in elections and be prosecuted under existing legislations.
However, Kinivuwai said this is an insult to the SDL Party.
And ousted Leader of Opposition Mick Beddoes said while some aspects of the FHRC submissions can be taken into account, however the report should not be given any credibility.
The FHRC in its submission to the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination, has highlighted Article 4 of the CERD Committee's General Recommendation to the interim government, which requires the State's parties to penalize four categories of misconduct, that is the:
I) Dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred
II) Incitement to racial hatred
III) Acts of violence against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin and
IV) Incitement to such acts.
In line with this, the Commission recommends that relevant provisions in the Penal Code and Public Order Act be used in future, to ensure that any political party that holds any racist ideas and or any national religious or racial hatred is prohibited by law from taking part in elections.
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FHRC commission to committee an insult-SDL
