The Association of the USP Staff and the USP Staff Union have today expressed their grave concern and disgust at the government’s decision to deport the regional University’s Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife.
In a statement after their meeting, the Presidents of the unions, Elizabeth Fong and Tarisi Vacala say given the seriousness of the decision, they demand the Fijian government to provide the justification for what they term ‘a gestapo tactic’.
They say according to media reports, Professor Ahluwalia has been cited as a ‘public risk’ and the staff as taxpayers, voters and owners of the university demand an explanation on how Ahluwalia is a ‘public risk’.
They say they are alarmed by the way that the officials allegedly broke into the Vice Chancellor’s residence in the middle of the night and orchestrated the removal of Ahluwalia and his wife.
Fong and Vacala say given the impact on the university’s reputation and staff morale, they reiterate their support for the USP Council to proceed with its scheduled meeting tomorrow to fully discuss this matter and already agreed to agenda items, to arrive at regionally acceptable solutions.
The unions say the manner in which the Vice Chancellor and his wife were removed is a violation of human rights and due process.
Fong and Vacala say in addition to this un-Pasifika and anti-Vuvale behavior, is the uninvited presence of Police on the Laucala Campus.
They say this is viewed as threatening and a disruption to the normal business of the regional University.
The unions say USP is a regional organization like Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Forum Fisheries Agency, SPC and demands the same respect given to these regional organisations.
