Response from Human Rights Commission

Alleged threats of eviction of tenants if they don’t vote for SODELPA are a violation of human rights, says Ashwin Raj. The Director Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission was commenting on claims that a landowner had made the threats. The landowner is the national president of SODELPA Women’s Wing, Litia Rawiriwiri. But she has denied claims that if SODELPA lost the 2018 General Elections it could lead to eviction of tenants from her land. In response to questions from the Fiji Sun, Mr Raj said: “This act of intimidation constitutes a serious violation of human rights including one’s ability to enjoy civil and political rights without fear of reprisal and recrimination because of the political choices an individual or a community makes as well as the right to security, social and economic well being and is sadly reminiscent of 1987 and 2000.

“The Fijian Constitution, under section 23 guarantees that every citizen has the freedom to make political choices including the right to free and fair and regular elections. Furthermore, the Electoral Act expressly provides that any political party, candidate for election to parliament, and any person representing, or acting under the direction of, any political party or candidate must conduct itself in a manner that not only respects the rights of other political parties and candidates but also respects the rights of voters.

“This matter needs to be thoroughly and promptly investigated by the Police.”