The right to vote, a fundamental human right is an expression of the will of an individual as recognized in the constitution and must be excised without fear of reprisal and recrimination.
This was highlighted by the Chairman of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti‑Discrimination Commission Ashwin Raj at the launch of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti‑Discrimination Commission Brochure on Elections.
Raj says that any person with position of authority, whether it be religious leaders, village heads, trade unionist or political party leaders, have no right to make decisions and impose unilaterally on the people the purpot to represent on whether they can or cannot vote.
He says such decisions made on individuals are contrary to an individuals freedom to make political choices including the right to vote by secret ballot.
Raj says empowering every Fijian who is eligible to vote to exercise their fundamental right recognized in the constitution is the impetus behind the publication of their brochure.
The Fijian Electoral Commission, Suresh Chandra acknowledged the Fiji Human Rights and Anti Discrimination Commission for the initiative in helping create awareness on the rights of a person in a free and fair and credible elections.
