6 Oct 2017

Fijians in California vent at Bainimarama's presence

11:30 am on 6 October 2017

There is anger in the Fijian community in California that prime minister Frank Bainimarama is the chief guest at Fiji Day celebrations this weekend.

The vice president of the Fiji Indigenous Peoples Foundation, Ratu Manasa Kikau, said in ten years of ruling Fiji Mr Bainimarama has committed human rights abuses, violated freedom of speech, movement and expression.

He said Mr Bainimarama and his deputy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum thrive on corrupt practices and are a law unto themselves.

And he said the draconian decrees they have issued through this period aim to strip the Fijian race of their traditional culture and rights.

Ratu Manasa said they don't want Mr Bainimarama involved and they would protest during the Fiji Day events.

"We will be standing up there and waving our placards and just letting the people know that we do not support the prime minister and we do not support his policies - the 27 decrees that he has put out, and the constitution."

"And highlight the lies he has been saying. They have been saying," he said.

The Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama at Government House in Auckland

The Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama at Government House in Auckland. Photo: RNZ/ALEX PERROTTET