Election observers on the ground in Fiji

Transcript

A full group of nearly 90 election observers is now on the ground in Fiji ahead of Wednesday's general election, the first in over eight years.
All campaigning has now ended and there is a media blackout on any political reporting.
The international group of observers come from at least a dozen different countries including Japan, Israel, Russia as well as New Zealand, Australia and neighbouring Pacific countries.
Some of the team have been in Fiji since the middle of last month and have been observing the early voting that has been going on in remote areas.
The team is lead jointly by Peter Reith, a former politician from Australia, and Wahid Supriyadi a diplomat from from Indonesia.
Mr Reith says they're there to ensure the election is above board:

PETER REITH: You will appreciate that the ambassador and myself and the whole team, we have a specific job to do. We're not commentators on politics. We're interested in the manner in which the election is run and we're very interested to hear what people have to say about that because as observers - whilst we're not running, obviously, the elections - we want to know what's happening and we have made significant efforts to get around and hear people say what they want to say. And I particularly want to make the comment for anybody else who has not yet heard that message. We are observers, and we are very keep to hear anything that people might have to say. I think we can say fairly that we've not seen any evidence of fraud or corruption. but that's not to say we're not listening. we are listening and we continue to do so through the process. We ourselves, in hearing what people have got to say, have been looking at some various matters which have been raised and we've taken those up with the relevant authorities to make that point, and when we present our written report, we will go through all of those issues which are left to one side in any way. We've been asked to do a professional job, giving the people of Fiji a fair and objective assessment of how the process is being undertaken and we treat that as a very important and in fact crucial obligation that we have and we have ti with the consent and approval and initiative of the government.

Peter Reith says his group will have preliminary findings the day after voting.