Fijian Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum released the following response today to the Australian Council of Trade Unions:
“The latest missive from Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President Ged Kearney regarding Fiji’s Public Order (Amendment) Decree betrays the organization’s desperation to score self-serving points against Fiji as we move positively into the future—as it is obvious she has not even read the provision or understand what is going on in Fiji. Her letter is rife with even the most basic inaccuracies.
“She writes that the Fijian government has given itself the abilities of “detention without a warrant…for 16 days.” False. In Fiji, a person can be detained for a maximum of 48 hours, or up to 14 days if warranted and only after the Police Commissioner has convinced the Minister responsible. Further, no one is to be detained beyond 14 days without allowance to go before the court, and none of these provisions apply to any crimes outside those outlined in the Public Order Act, such as robbery.
“Indeed, Fiji’s laws pale in comparison to other countries, many of which allow both preventative and indefinite detention in certain circumstances without court appearances. And, unlike Australia, Fiji does not allow tracking devices to be installed on individuals in any situation. Even the United States, under the National Defense Authorization Act, allows the military to indefinitely detain terror suspects, including American citizens arrested in the U.S., without charge.
“Fiji does not come close to going as far as other countries, yet the ACTU views Fiji in isolation, neglecting both context and historical perspective.
“The Bainimarama Government has approached the Public Order (Amendment) Decree with the utmost transparency and accountability, as it will continue to along with all matters on its path to elections in 2014.
“Just this week, the Fijian Police Commissioner proactively invited the leadership of Fijian unions along with other civil society groups to an open discussion about the repeal of the emergency restrictions and to establish an ongoing dialogue. Many members of the Fijian unions spoke publicly about the positive changes occurring.
“Pramod Rae from the Fiji Bank and Finance Sector Employees Union stated in a television interview: ‘We are very grateful to the Commissioner for his initiative,’ a sentiment echoed by Agni Deo Singh of the Fiji Teachers Union. Attar Singh from FICTU added also in a televised interview: ‘[The police] appreciate that we have an eligible role to play and…they will help facilitate our activities.’ Union members were also provided personal contact information of high-positioned officers to ensure an open-door policy.
“Through incendiary and false claims, the ACTU has proven again how out-of-touch it is with reality, and has confirmed that its interests are only self-serving.”