19 Sep 2011

Former Fiji minister Zinck calls for chief censor to quit

6:01 am on 19 September 2011

A former Fiji government minister seeking asylum in Australia says Fiji's chief censor knows nothing of the happenings in Fiji and should resign.

Kenneth Zinck released a statement after the permanent secretary of information, Sharon Smith Johns, dismissed his allegations of abuse at the hands of the Fiji military.

She said she was baffled about his claims and was alarmed at such fabrications.

But Mr Zinck, who became a union leader after the end of his political career, says he has so far been abused at the military barracks three times and fled to Australia to avoid being taken in for a fourth time.

He says after his escape to Brisbane, soldiers wearing balaclavas turned up at his house in the middle of the night only to find his daughter and niece.

Mr Zinck says Ms Smith-Johns can check with police as his daughter lodged a complaint for trespass and harassment.