Speak out against comments based on race and religion - Sayed-Khaiyum

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says some opposition politicians are creating differences between the Hindus and  Muslims in the country. 

While speaking in the talanoa session on desecration of temples in Fiji at the Shree Gopal Sadhu Hanumaan Gadhi Mandir in Nakasi, Sayed-Khaiyum says the people from these parties go and see and then report back to the parties that there are more North Indians, South Indians or Muslims attending the meetings.

Sayed-Khaiyum says these people also go and say that the name of the FijiFirst should be M.M party. He says when they asked what is the meaning of M.M, they said that it means Madrasi Muslim Party. 

He says that a particular political party that has been in Fiji for a very long time is saying this.

Sayed-Khaiyum says they have recordings where these people are saying these things.

The Attorney General says we all have to stand up, talk and be bold enough to oppose comments based on race and religion.

This was the strong message by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while responding to a concern raised by a woman about hate speeches. 

The woman had asked Sayed-Khaiyum what the government is doing to deal with the amount of hate speeches, taking into consideration what happened during the 2000 coup.

The Attorney General pointed out that only the FijiFirst has been highlighting in parliament what happened in 2000 and that we all do not want a repeat of that. 

He says they have openly said that in 2000, women were stripped naked and raped in Muaniweni, and women were also stripped and asked to cook on wooden stoves in Dreketi by the rebels.

Sayed-Khaiyum says that the FijiFirst is the only party that has openly said this in parliament and he says the National Federation Party has said nothing on this in parliament. 

He says the Fiji Labour Party has not said anything in parliament as they are not in parliament. 

He says the parties who have not said anything and not spoken out against comments based on race and religion, should be ashamed.

Sayed-Khaiyum stresses that if people want to build a new future for Fiji on a foundation of ethnic division or religious division, then we will never progress. 

The Attorney General says the solution to this is to stay on the path that we are on as no Prime Minister in Fiji has ever openly said that everyone is Fijian. 

He says this was never done from the time when the late Ratu Mara led government to when Bainimarama took up office.

He says only Bainimarama has said that everyone in the country is Fijian and this is also stated in the 2013 constitution.

Sayed-Khaiyum also says that before the 2014 elections, there was a video that was released in Cakaudrove where some SODELPA members made a video saying if you vote for Bainimarama and FijiFirst, then Indo Fijians will take over all the iTaukei land and the iTaukei would have to go and live in reserves. 

He says this is not the case as iTaukei land is well protected under the constitution.

Sayed-Khaiyum stresses that Police will come down hard on people making hate speeches.