Transcript
Fiji's parliament has endorsed the suspension of three opposition MPs from the legislature over an auditing dispute.
The National Federation Party MPs' seats sat empty on the first day of parliament for the year as fellow opposition MPs rallied to their defence.
Sally Round reports.
Fiji's parliament was told the National Federation Party is a "grand old party" and it was extreme to suspend the NFP from operating for 30 days and to exclude the party's MPs from parliament for the same period.The Sodelpa MP Bill Gavoka said the MPs and the party were among some of the most brilliant minds in Fiji.
BILL GAVOKA: They were a party of giants. Today, unfortunately, we are, if you compare ourselves with them, we are dwarves and we are led by dwarves in this country. This is too extreme. The people of this country want balance in our leadership.
The opposition called on the Speaker Jiko Luveni to get another legal opinion on whether the MPs could sit despite their party having been suspended by the Registrar of Political Parties over issues with its audit. Dr Luveni made the decision to suspend after getting advice from the Solicitor General.The Leader of the Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa said the parliament had been hijacked in having to vote on the matter which set a bad precedent for the parliament. She said she was wearing a black ribbon in mourning for democracy in the country.
RO TEIMUMU KEPA: The death of democracy Madame Speaker, the suspension of the NFP, the flag change, the rights of the indigenous Fijians. All this is showing up that democracy is dying Madame Speaker.
The Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum scoffed at the opposition for speaking of the NFP in glowing terms when it had been sidelined by their predecessors.
AIYAZ SAYED-KHAIYUM: If they want to talk about NFP coming back to the House, tell their friends simply get an auditor that is certified, a person who can sign off, how simple is that? How simple is that?
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the vote protected the dignity of parliament and the opposition had again got it wrong.
AIYAZ SAYED-KHAIYUM: Legally they are on very feeble ground. This decision by parliament to endorse the decision you have made Madame Speaker is simply an endorsement of that, does not in any way restrict the National Federation Party from challenging the decision made by the Registrar of Political Parties.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the vote was a way of buffering the Speaker's decision to put an end to the debate.
