Beddoes Lodges Complaint, Parties Seek Legal Advice, Call to Retract
Mick Beddoes has filed a complaint against FijiFirst leader, Voreqe Bainimarama’s comments during a rally at Syria Park on November 16.
On the other hand, other political parties are seeking legal advice on the matter and calling on Mr Bainimarama to retract his comments. Mr Bainimarama’s comments were in relation to the possibility of converting freehold land titles to native lease.
Speaking in iTaukei Mr Bainimarama had said: “Na veitalanoa ya ena vakavuna na vei ta, na laba, na dra ena drodro ena noda vanua, na basu bai ena vakayacori ena veitalanoa oya”. (This conversation will cause stabbing, murder and blood spilled on our land, and unlawful entering (property) will happen if that conversation is condoned.”) Mr Beddoes claimed that the comments were ‘inciteful remarks’ and was a breach of section 116 (3) (c) of the Electoral Act.
“This could easily arouse anger, alarm or resentment,” Mr Beddoes claimed.
“Quite apart from being deliberately reckless, such remarks are unbecoming of a person holding the office of Prime Minister,” he said.
What Saneem said
In a letter addressed to Mr Beddoes dated on November 21, the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem, said the Fijian Elections Office would commence enquiry of the same in regards to the allegations levelled against Mr Bainimarama and Economy Minister, Aiyaz Sayed.
“Should you have any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact our Political Party Registration Officer Mr Mesake Dawai,” Mr Saneem said.
Unity Fiji
Unity Fiji Party leader, Savenaca Narube, said the party had not yet lodged a complaint against Mr Bainimarama.
“We are seeking legal advice before a formal complaint will be lodged to Mr Saneem,” he said.
The People’s Alliance
People’s Alliance deputy leader Manoa Kamikamica said no official complaint had been lodged by
the party.
“I am just waiting for legal advice from my lawyer then we will proceed from there,” Mr Kamikamica said.
Party leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, called on Mr Bainimarama to retract his recent ‘extremist comments and apologise to the public spreading fear’.
Mr Rabuka said he (Mr Bainimarama) uttered them without providing evidence to support it.
“He has linked his predictions of trouble and strife to alleged statements about land by unnamed Opposition parties,” Mr Rabuka said. “His language and its threatening tone take on a deeper meaning because he has used them in remarks during the election campaign.
“It is obvious the PM is trying to do in the 2022 election what he did in 2018.”
Mr Rabuka said Mr Bainimarama had not denied his comments nor had he shared his thinking on exactly who would commit the violence that inhabits his mind. “I think his mind is the key. But it’s usually impossible to fathom what happens there. That would require expert skills,” he said.
SODELPA
SODELPA general secretary, Lenaitasi Duru, said the party did not want to waste its time in lodging a complaint.
Mr Duru said the party was more focused on winning the upcoming General Election.
“I do not know which party is promoting that idea for the freehold land to return to iTaukei. It is not definitely SODELPA because it’s not part of our policy,” he said. He said the party was not interested in returning freehold land to its landowners.
In our report last week, SODELPA leader, Viliame Gavoka, had called on Mr Bainimarama to be more responsible with his comments.
“This form of campaign should never be facilitated nor entertained as it creates fear amongst the voters and animosity” Mr Gavoka said.