Many people have raised concerns regarding two people with links to Fiji who are living abroad and were part of the group that allegedly spread fake news and rumours of civil unrest and government takeover on Monday, which resulted in some children not going to school and some people not going to work.
People are saying that Savenaca Dauvunau who lives in New South Wales, Australia and Maciu Loma-vatu who lives in California, USA allegedly spread this misinformation that disrupted the education of some children and created unnecessary panic. Those posts of unrest were widely circulated through social media messaging platforms.
People have said that these acts are shameful as it affected the children of Fiji.
In some classrooms, only a handful of students turned up for classes on Monday.
However, the majority of the people were at school and work on Monday.
In a desperate final message last Sunday, the group spreading the fake news called on parents not to send their children to school even if they had their exam starting on Monday. These messages had also spread to the children who kept asking their parents if it was safe to go to school.
More than 17,000 students started sitting for the Fiji Year 8 External Examination on Monday.
The good news is that the Education Ministry says that they had almost 100% exam attendance.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces has already stated that they will fulfill their constitutional role as people started getting the fake news of unrest.
Section 131 (2) of the constitution states that it shall be the overall responsibility of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to ensure at all times the security, defence and well‑being of Fiji and all Fijians.
Fijivillage has sent questions to Dauvunau and Lomavatu on the allegations that they are part of the group spreading the fake news as they had the posts on their accounts. We have also questioned them on why this was done as it affected many people and whether they are using this tactic to incite fear and hatred.
Only Lomavatu has responded, saying that he was not part of the group spreading the fake news and rumours.
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