A-G Corrects Rabuka: Bulitavu Motion Debate is Not Subjudice
The Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says discussion on the Mosese Bulitavu motion is not subjudice.
He was responding to the leader of the Opposition Sitiveni Rabuka’s comments that any discussion would prejudice the rights of Mr Bulitavu and usurp the functions of the Police, the DPP and the Courts, if charges were laid against the MP. Mr Rabuka said that was why SODELPA MPs would not contribute to the debate.
He said Mr Bulitavu was still under Police investigation for alleged breaches of the Public Order Act.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, in his Right of Reply on the motion against Mr Bulitavu, said there was no issue of subjudice in place because no one had been charged.
He said there was simply a complaint made.
He also added that Mr Rabuka could have shown leadership as the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama did, by condemning gender-based violence and racial stereotyping “but he failed to do so”. However, he added that Mr Rabuka did not want to make a statement against racism, gender-based violence because it was a comment made by somebody who sat beside him in Parliament.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum added if one of the members of FijiFirst had made such a comment he could assure the members that the female members of the Opposition would have been there day in and day out criticising. As a former Prime Minister of Fiji and head of the executive, he should know when the
matter was subjudice or not, said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum. He also said both National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad and Mr Rabuka had allowed political expediency to get in the way of common human decency, common human principle and human rights.
He said the reason why he brought up the motion was to very strongly condemn the utterance by Mr Bulitavu due to its enormous impact on members of Parliament and its ability to influence people.
He said the appeal was made by members of the Government side of the House. He said they spoke from the heart, they spoke about how they felt about their own personal experiences as a woman.
He added that the Opposition women had the opportunity to do so too not just last night, but prior to last night but they were silent. He said it was the hypocrisy that was causing anguish to people more than anything.
The motion was passed with 30 in favour and 21 against.