PM speaks about the increasing misuse of social media

PM speaks about the increasing misuse of social media

By Vijay Narayan
Friday 29/07/2016
Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama (Photo: Fijian Govt)

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has spoken about the increasing misuse of social media by people to create division along ethnic and religious lines and he has called on people to shame and expose the cyber thugs for creating disunity.

While opening the USP Open Day today, Bainimarama said everyone needs to make a personal commitment to work together – as one nation, one people – if we are to fulfill our destiny.              

He said this means standing up more than ever for ethnic and religious understanding, the cornerstones of any successful nation.

Bainimarama said it also means drowning out the voices of division with a chorus of unity and goodwill.

The Prime Minister said there is a lot of targeted abuse of innocent people on ethnic or religious grounds on social media.

He says social media such as Facebook and Twitter can be a powerful force for good, in keeping people connected and for the exchange of information and ideas.

Bainimarama encourages people to use it as a means of bringing people together.

But he said unfortunately, there are some individuals and groups roaming cyberspace who are trying to stir up hatred against their fellow Fijians on ethnic or religious grounds.

Bainimarama then asked people to do all they can to expose such people.

He said people should confront these messages of hate and their threats of violence.

The Prime Minister said some of these trolls and cyber thugs either act anonymously or steal other people’s identities by setting up false accounts.

Bainimarama said everyone who uses social media should be alert and do what they can to shame these cyber thugs.

The Prime Minister stressed that it is not a question of threatening free speech.

Bainimarama said political criticism is perfectly acceptable and is an important part of our democracy.

He encourages this but he said inciting hatred against someone because of their ethnicity or their religion is a crime under Fijian law and the laws of many other countries, including our bigger neighbours.

Bainimarama said it cannot be justified nor should it be allowed.

He said freedom of expression is a vital component of any democracy and is, in fact, guaranteed in the Constitution.

However the Prime Minister stressed that it is not an absolute right.

Bainimarama said with freedom comes responsibility, a responsibility to keep the society cohesive and protect the rights of every citizen.




fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
FEATURE NEWS
Economy continues to perform well, headline inflation at 4% in Oct – RBF
Despite the slowdown in the global economy, the Reserve Bank of Fiji states that the Fijian economy continues to perform well and is projected to grow...
9 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Environment Dept looks into rubbish being illegally dumped in Wailoku
The Department of Environment is looking into a case where rubbish is being dumped by a group of people in an empty plot in Wailoku. In videos ...
9 hours ago

Demand for labour continues to rise in Fiji – RBF
The demand for labour continues to rise, reflective of the rebounding economic activity coupled with higher labour emigration according to the ...
9 hours ago

9 students acknowledged by Sanatan Fiji for scoring highest mark in Hindi
It was a historic day for 9 students of Visama Sanatan Primary School, Ba Sanatan College, Pundit Shreedhar Maharaj College and Chauhan Memorial ...
10 hours ago

FDB raises $10,000 for Fiji Cancer Society
The Fiji Cancer Society has received a boost in their work to assist people battling cancer as the Fiji Development Bank presented them with a cheque ...
12 hours ago

Acting DPP will not be the prosecutor in Bainimarama and Qiliho's appeal matter
Acting DPP John Rabuku has informed the court that he will not be prosecuting the matter where he has filed and appealed against the former Prime ...
14 hours ago
IN DEPTH
PM’s motion passed to reduce overseas travel allowances for the PM, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Leader of Opposition and MPs
Parliament has passed the Prime Minister’s motion to reduce the rates payable for overseas travelling allowances for the Prime Minister, Cabinet ...
12 days ago

CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Joel Abraham appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Joel Abraham appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
18 days ago

HIV infections in Fiji increased 260% since 2010, making Fiji the second fastest-growing epidemic in the Asia Pacific region
Speaker of Parliament and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for the Pacific Region, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau says according to the Global AIDS Monitoring Report, Fiji is in the top 5 countries of rising new HIV infections in the Asia Pacific region amongst the 15 t
23 days ago

TOP