Labour condemns extension of Emergency Rule

[posted 16 October 2009, 1400]

The extension of emergency rule for a further period of 30 days by the interim government is clear evidence of its own lack of confidence in its ability to govern Fiji without imposing repressive measures on the people.

Serious violations of human rights have characterised Emergency Rule since 10 April when the Constitution was abrogated, the judiciary dismissed and strict media censorship imposed.

Today the situation in the cane belt is alarming. The cane farming community is harassed, intimidated, abused and even assaulted by certain elements in the security forces over the issue of burnt cane.

The National Farmers Union has written to HE the Acting President, the interim Prime Minister and the Interim Minister for Defence and National Security on this issue. The Union has urged that independent investigations be carried out into the instances of abuse of authority by certain elements in the security forces.

A number of specific instances of abuse and assault were cited in the NFU letter. It is now for the authorities to act in the matter or face condemnation from the public at large and the international community.

The indefinite extension of Emergency Rule without any justification (there has not been any instances of uprising or insurgency), the unsatisfactory state of the judiciary and media censorship are indicative of authoritarian and oppressive rule.