Petitions spark outrage from Vanua of Naitasiri

Traditional chiefly leaders of the Vanua of Naitasiri are outraged at a petition circulated among suspended SODELPA members.

There are two petitions. The first one is calling for the removal of the suspended party’s only legitimate appointee, Vijay Singh, while a second petition, purporting to be from Naitasiri, is calling on Mr Singh to bypass the Working Committee and convene the Management Board Meeting on June 15.

The petition is also calling for the return of all suspended SODELPA MPs to Parliament.

Speaking to the Fiji Sun yesterday, suspended SODELPA’s Naitasiri representative Aseri Radrodro confirmed that he spoke to the Mata ni Tikina of Nawaidina about the petition.

“The letter is unsigned and is very disconcerting and the mata ni

Tikina says they are unaware and unhappy that their vanua is being used to advance some agendas that conflict with the interests of the vanua,” he said.

“I will ask people who are trying to use the name of the province for their own agenda to desist.”

He said the vanua was used in lawless activities in the past and gave an example of what occurred at Kalabu in 2000.

“The Turaga na Qaranivalu remains imprisoned and we have been urging for his release. That cannot be jeopardised by some selfish self-serving individuals,” he said.

“Naitasiri believes in the rule of law.”

Mr Radrodro has travelled extensively throughout the Naitasiri Province and knows that their people look up to political leaders to be the voice of reason.

“Right now, we have immense economic hardships and unemployment generally experienced all over Fiji and the world,” he said.

“It takes some extremist elements to similarly ignite what is happening in the USA here in Fiji. And we cannot and must not allow that to happen so I am urging all our people and our leaders to be mindful of using politics to divide our people further.”

He is urging parties to find common ground and show the people that they can resolve their challenges rather than add on to them.

“To put it simply, respect the rule of law and we cannot go wrong,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Singh responded to the petition yesterday saying: “It is sad if that’s true.

“Especially when l am working day and night with the nine-member taskforce to bring the party back on track and lift the suspension.

“I am only strictly following guidelines from the Registrar of Political Parties.”