19th Feb may be a stay at home day in Fiji

19th Feb may be a stay at home day in Fiji

Tue, 13 Feb 2001 09:49:54 +1200

PEOPLE'S COALITION GOVERNMENT, FIJI Issue No: 471 13 February 2001

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Savua seems to say staying home on 19th is illegal

Police Commissioner Isikia Savua seems to say that staying home on 19 February is illegal.

The Fiji First Movement has called on the people of Fiji to stay home on 19 February and pray for peace and a just solution to Fiji's crisis. Movement's Mick Beddoes has been interviewed by the police.

Speaking on Fiji TV news last night, Savua said that people should treat 19 February as any normal day and not stay home. He tried to assure people that it was safe during the appeal sitting for people to go about their daily routine. This is despite the reported threats made by ultra-nationalists.

The Savua assurance has become a joke, particularly after the dismal failure of the Savua led force on and prior to 19 May 2000. Very few people in Fiji now trust Savua.

One businessman commented that Savua must be "thinking we all are fools. I will put shutters on my shop on Monday". Savua has so far not arrested or charged anyone who has threatened bloodshed and violence in the country if the appeals decision goes against the regime.

Savua has also said that participation in the Fiji First call for staying home may be illegal. Savua told the Fiji TV news that he can lock people up for 24 hours if need be.

The businessman added that Savua must be out of his mind saying he will charge anyone staying home on 19 February. "I will be locked up at my home" rather than be locked in my shop by thugs, stated the businessman.

Meanwhile in another of the nation's jokes, the Public Service Commission has stated that it will come on hard on civil servants who stayed home on 19 February. PSC's Anare Jale is quoted in today's Daily Post as saying: "We have made it clear that . as far as the Movement's call is concerned, they are required to come to work on the day the protest is called. . those who breach the laws governing the civil service will be dealt with".

The PSC has so far not "dealt with" any of the many civil servants who had been actively involved with the terrorists on and about 19 May 2000.

A public service union member commented this morning that the union believed that Jale and the PSC are out to victimise those who stand up for the 1997 constitution and law and order. "This is natural since people like Jale have openly sided with lawlessness. He himself is a product of lawlessness of 1987. How else could he, without even any paper qualification, have been given such rapid promotion over better qualified civil servants to the country's top civil service post? They just want to maintain their position and protect people like them", he stated.

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