27 Mar 2003

Fiji's CCF calls for law change to stop hate speeches in parliament

5:11 pm on 27 March 2003

Fiji's Citizens Constitutional Forum says changes must be made to parliament privilege laws to stop politicians from delivering hate speeches in parliament.

Earlier the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination or CERD expressed concern about the regular occurrences of hate speeches and assertions of the supremacy of indigenous Fijians.

The CCF's chairman, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki, says the committee wants Fiji to comply to its UN obligations which includes introducing policies to eliminate racial discrimination.

He says one such area is to change parliamentary laws to make politicians accountable for what they say.

"Provisions in the 1997 constitution declare racist speeches as illegal. In Fiji, some of the worst are politicians. They use parliament as a venue, they should be charged. Because they are privileged by parliament they cannot be charged but we think those who make racist remarks should be charged."

The Reverend Akuila Yabaki.

The Fiji government is expected to give a progress report to CERD in two years time.