Businesses, media, NFP slam investigation call

Issue No: 865; 19 June 2001

 
The country's Chamber of Commerce, the Fiji Times and the National Federation Party have slammed the calls made by the Fiji Labour Party for investigations into the involvement of businessmen in the terrorist uprising last year.

The Fiji Labour Party has stated that some sections of the business community had funded the terrorists last year. Names of those involved have been given to the police. The police has stated that it is investigating the businessmen implicated. The Labour Party has claimed that the police investigations are not proceeding at a desirable pace and that Police Commissioner has been frustrating the investigations.

The National Federation Party has reacted strongly to the claim and stated that the FLP should report the people involved to the police. It further stated "If they claim to know the names behind the coup they should tell instead of expecting the police to carry out full investigations without assisting them".

The Fiji Chamber of Commerce has also slammed the call for investigations, and rejected that some businessmen were involved with the terrorists. The Chamber stated that it will not tolerate the "wild and general accusations levelled at the business community". It stated that the business community had suffered enormous losses because of the terrorists.

Today the Fiji Times also slammed the call for investigations saying that the Labour Party has made "wild accusations". It has also called for the Labour Party to prove the allegations.

Police Commissioner had also earlier stated that the FLP should provide evidence to the police of the involvement of the businessmen.

Under law it is the police department which is empowered and required to investigate criminal activities. Aggrieved parties are only required to report their grievances to the police.

The call by the NFP, the Fiji Times and the Chamber of Commerce for the Fiji Labour Party to investigate and provide evidence is nothing but a call for vigilante type justice.

The attitude of the NFP, the Chamber of Commerce, the Fiji Times and the Fiji Police are clear indicators that they do not want any investigation to be done in the involvement of the businessmen.

The NFP is heavily supported and financed by the ethnic Indian business community. Some of these supporters had financed the terrorists. The Chamber and the Fiji Times are sustained by the big businesses, some of who were behind the terrorists. The Police Commissioner, Isikia Savua was himself a leading player in the terrorist activity.

The alliance of these interest groups to protect a segment of the business community which is highly corrupt and which has absolute contempt for the law, reveals the extent to which it will gang up to keep the criminals from being brought to justice.

 

People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands
Disclaimer
Webmaster
Last update: August 27, 2001