13 Aug 2012

Fiji's SDL threatened with closure

1:30 pm on 13 August 2012

Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has warned the SDL Party that it will be shut down if its members cannot come up with proposals that will bring a better Fiji for all the citizens.

The SDL, which was removed from power in his 2006 military coup, is reported in Fiji to have made a submission to the Constitution Commission.

Commodore Bainimarama says most are disappointed with the submission.

Reports carried in Fiji say the SDL wants to end country's status as a secular state and have it declared a Christian state.

However, the SDL's National President, Solomone Naivalu, says the party's representatives have not appeared before the Constitution Commission and therefore made no submission whatsoever.

He says the reports on the Fijivillage website are perhaps written with the intent of painting an evil image and portrait of the SDL to foment racial discord.