13 Apr 2006

The Fiji Elections Office is calling for tougher laws against politicians who try to bribe or coerce

10:17 am on 13 April 2006

The Fiji Elections Office is calling for tougher laws against politicians who try to bribe or coerce officials, to prevent them from standing for national elections.

Radio Legend reports that the supervisor of elections, Semesa Karavaki, is calling on the new government that will come into power next month to bring in new laws to deter politicians from interfering in the electoral process.

Mr Karavaki says the current fine of 1,200-US dollars will not deter aspiring candidates from bribing officials.

His call follows reports that three Fiji Labour Party politicians allegedly coerced two officials to tamper with the electoral rolls for the Ba Open and Magodro Open constituencies in their favour.

The Elections Office and the National Alliance Party have filed complaints with the police and an investigation is under way.

But the FLP leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, says some political parties are just trying to discredit Labour by making such claims.