Meeting probe
Abendra Ram Tahal, California, USA
The Attorney-General’s office should hold full and thorough probe into the recent meeting held by the SODELPA Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, in Imanueli Methodist Church in Nadera. Sitiveni held the meeting as the SODELPA party leader’s capacity yet he claims the meeting was in regard to thanksgiving services.
Sitiveni, being the leader of a political party, should very well know that all political parties, including FijiFirst, SODELPA, NFP, Labour, etc are prohibited from conducting any kind of meetings in the name of political parties in any religious places like churches, mosque and temples under the law.
The Attorney-General’s office should investigate if any laws were broken and more so if the SODELPA party’s name was mentioned in the meeting then the violation was already committed and appropriate action should be taken against Sitiveni and the party. Also the authorities should check if Sitiveni had the proper permit to hold the meeting. Like any democratic nation state and religion are totally independent and hence Sitiveni should be dismissed by the electoral commission as he still claims that he is Methodist Church lay preacher. Our Prime Minister, Mr Bainimarama is trying his best to eliminate the racial and discriminatory policies of the past governments.
The Attorney-General’s office should also interview and investigate SODELPA senior members and opposition MPs Aseri Radrodro, Salote Radrodro, Ratu Sela Nanovo and Mikaele Leawere who attended the meeting. The president of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Reverend Tevita Banivanua, is wrong in saying that lay preachers were allowed to be involved in politics.