LAW MUST BE ALLOWED TO TAKE ITS OWN COURSE IN BAINIMARAMA-TIKODUADUA CASE
Those who are already acting to takes sides and publicly share their opinions particularly on social media are compromising the integrity of Police investigations.
The alleged incident between Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and National Federation Party President Pio Tikoduadua has highlighted a number of issues.
Rule of Law
This is an important pillar of democracy. It must be respected by all people irrespective of our socio-economic status. It means all our rights are respected. In this case, an allegation was made and a complaint has been lodged with Police. The Police must be allowed to conduct their investigations as they are mandated by law free from interference or influence or any form of pressure. The law must be allowed to take its own course of action. Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho has assured it.
Let’s therefore leave it to the Police to carry out its constitutional responsibility.
Politicising issue
Unfortunately, some people have politicised the issue to gain maximum mileage without realising that they are compromising the integrity of the investigations. Police investigations should not be subjected to any form of interference or pressure, political or otherwise.
If we do not watch it, it could give one side an unfair advantage. Some are even jumping the gun to try to predict what would happen even before Police have completed their investigations. This is ridiculous and uncalled for.
It is also dangerous if such speculations get into the wrong hands, particularly the extremist elements.
Political pressure
A media report had reported that the three NFP MPs
Leader Biman Prasad, Mr Tikoduadua and Lenora Qereweretabua planned to boycott Parliament today in protest. While that is their prerogative what good would it do?
No form of political pressure should be allowed to influence Police work or the parliamentary process. The Speaker, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, is unlikely to rule On the complaint against Mr Bainimarama because Police are investigating the same complaint. It is plain common sense. He would not want to pre-empt the outcome of Police investigations.
He is likely to let the law takes its own course because he would not want to interfere with it:
The three NFP MPs would better spend their time inside than outside.