Democracy in Fiji is a sham after elections - Kepa

The Leader of Opposition, Ro Teimumu Kepa has said in her Fiji Day message that democracy in Fiji after the 2014 elections is a sham.

In her message, Ro Teimumu has blamed the military for the four coups in the country after Fiji’s independence in 1970.

Ro Teimimu claims that Fiji now has dictatorship in the guise of democracy although the country now has a democratically elected government after the elections.

She says the Opposition, which she leads, has firsthand experience of a Parliamentary machine dedicated to minimizing dissent and limiting accountability.

Ro Teimumu says parliament is, in the words of the Prime Minister, the peoples’ house. She says it belongs to them, yet they were not consulted on the Fiji First Government’s decision to curtail parliamentary debate time.

The issue on parliament time was fully debated in parliament before a vote was taken.

Ro Teimumu says she realizes that some people might object to her raising these points in a Fiji Day message.

She says after all this is a celebration but that does not mean the truth should be glossed over or sugar coated.

The Opposition Leader then said that may democracy and freedom flourish for the benefit of every citizen and for generations to come.

Ro Teimumu also highlighted concerns about our environment, saying we should consider the litter and trash that is dumped all over the country.