12 Jan 2004

Fiji Labour Party opposed to high commission to be set up in India

8:15 am on 12 January 2004

The Fiji Labour Party is opposing the setting up of a high commission in India by the Qarase government.

An Indian newspaper has reported that a diplomatic post was set up on January the 2nd while a named public servant is due to take up the high commissioner's post soon.

But the Labour leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, says the party is opposed to such a mission on humanitarian grounds because of the Fiji government's institutionalised racist policies.

Mr Chaudhry also says the current government is unconstitutional and there are issues of human rights violations.

He says Labour wants all foreign governments to know the party's position which they should take into account in their relations with Fiji.