21 Jun 2012

Fiji Labour Party objects to police at party talks

10:30 am on 21 June 2012

The Fiji Labour Party has called for an end to the policing of consultation meetings of political parties.

The party says although it had a permit for a meeting in Ba last weekend, it was only issued on the condition that a civilian police officer was present throughout the gathering.

The meeting was called to discuss the constitutional consultations due to begin to prepare for elections promised for 2014.

The Party says the future role of the military should be thoroughly dealt with in the constitutional exercise, which it says must be independent of the interim government.

It also called for restrictions on the media to report freely and fully to be removed, claiming the media are being warned by the regime not to report statements by political leaders.