Fiji's CCF cancels panel discussions

Transcript

Fiji's Citizens Constitutional Forum has postponed its series of panel discussions on the elections.

According to its head, Akuila Yabaki, the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem said its discussion on free and fair elections last week was in breach of the Electoral Decree.

Reverend Yabaki strongly rejects allegations the CCF is in breach, and has requested a permit from Mr Saneem to allow another three panel discussions planned before next month's election.

He spoke to Mary Baines.

AKUILA YABAKI: We have maintained in our response to the allegation that we are in breach of the Electoral Decree 2014, by publishing a research paper on international benchmarks on free and fair elections and holding a public conversation on the same paper, that we were not in breach. Because we were not carrying out a campaign, we were carrying it out for educational purposes and engaging in public discussion.

MARY BAINES: Have you been in discussion with the elections supervisor Mohammed Saneem about this?

AY: We are writing to him. He has withdrawn the invitation, we were looking forward to [meeting with him]. Since last Friday, he had indicated that he would meet, and again on Monday with us. And then it was to be Tuesday. But then on Tuesday evening he changed his mind, and sent a fax letter to say that because FICAC, corruption investigation commission, that since the matter has been referred to FICAC he would rather not meet with us. We think that was very sad and I think it shows that he maybe needs more courage to do the face to face discussion.

MB: So now you're looking to get a permit to continue with these conversations, you've still got three to go before the elections?

AY: Yeah. We already thinking there might be a place for it. Since the three - separation of powers, bill of rights, and transition to democracy, there may be a place to have that. Just for good faith, we are going to ask for prior written approval.

MB: Written approval for the panel discussions to go ahead?

AY: Yeah. Even if we get approval, it will mean we can put back the outcome of the paper on free and fair elections to our website and the accompanying discussion, the panel discussions.

MB: How likely do you think it is you will get this permit?

AY: Ah well, we will see. We think the ones yet to be held are not on free and fair elections. This one, they found over-sensitive, I think, because it is about making observations on where the country's at the moment, leading to September 17th.

MB: It has been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, what kind of role will they play in this? Why is it referred to them?

AY: Well, you ask them, not me [laughs].

MB: I actually have asked them and they have come back and said they can't make any comment on it, or confirm or deny whether they are doing an investigation.

AY: An anomaly of the 2013 government constitution, and I think experts have commented on that, that the FICAC is listed under the judicial institutions, and it shouldn't be. That's a comment made by analysts. So that is why they have been given this task, to do an investigation. When I asked them, are they any lawyers amongst you when they came to my office, they said no, there are no lawyers. But I couldn't start to discuss anything with them until I had my legal person alongside me.

The Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem, could not be reached for comment.