The Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum issued the following statement in response to the Fijivillage article, which alleges the Public Order Amendment restricts debate and free speech:
"The Public Order Amendment Decree plays a central role in protecting free speech and encouraging civic debate. It is in place to address overt acts of racial and religious vilification – which we have seen in Fiji's history – and to promote true dialogue among all Fijians. Any groups seeking to meet peacefully, without intentions to “[prejudice] peace, public safety and good order and/or…[engage] in racial or religious vilification" has not and will not be prevented by law from meeting.”
“It is the responsibility of media to accurately represent the realities of laws, regulations, and the media environment in Fiji”.