NFP wants to march

THE National Federation Party (NFP) has lodged an application with police for a permit to march on Fiji Day.

NFP general secretary Seni Nabou said the objective of the march was to highlight the “continuous delay” in investigations into the alleged assault of suspended party president Pio Tikoduadua by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

She said it had been almost two months since the incident and there had been no word on the progress of the case.

Mr Tikoduadua had lodged a report with the police on August 9, alleging that he was assaulted by the PM outside Parliament.

In a statement yesterday, Ms Nabou said the party had lodged the permit application with the Southern Divisional Police Commander on Wednesday, within the seven-day notice period stipulated by law.

She said the application was for a permit to allow a maximum of 5000 NFP members, supporters and wellwishers to march through Suva City, from Rodwell Rd to Constitution Ave.

“The NFP wants to highlight issues about the rule of law, genuine democracy and is concerned about delays by police in concluding the investigation into the alleged assault of Mr Tikoduadua by the Prime Minister,” she said.

“The fact that investigations were not completed is cemented by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions decision to return the file that police had submitted to it (ODPP) and has directed police to further investigate the matter.

“Today is day 57 since the alleged assault took place on August 9.

“The NFP supporters are rightly asking why the alleged aggressor is still free to globe-trot and earn hefty salaries and perks while the victim has been suspended from Parliament and has lost all privileges including his salary.”

Meanwhile, when contacted for comments, police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro reiterated comments made earlier by COMPOL Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho, who said they would only update the complainant and not the newspaper.