Labour minister slates BBC 'segregation' report

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ZINCK SLATES BBC REPORT
http://www.fijilive.com/

SUVA (FijiLive/Pacific Media Watch): A British Broadcasting Corporation country profile on Fiji highlighting differences between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians has stirred conservative politicians with Labour Minister Kenneth Zinck describing it as "rubbish", the Daily Post reports.

The BBC report said: "Fiji¹s population, which resides mostly on the two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, is divided almost equally between the indigenous Fijians and ethnic Indians.

"Mixing between the two groups is minimal, and informal segregation runs deep at almost every level of society."

Zinck condemned the statement, claiming he had not seen any such ethnic division between Indians and Fijians in Fiji.

"We do not see any ethnic violence in our streets. Even in the working environment, all races are working together and we do not see each other as someone of a different race but as individuals,' Mr Zinck said.

"Even this cyclone is evidence enough that the two races actually work together in times of need: The Indian men who went out to save the Fijian fishermen, the Indian man who kept those people in his house, safe from the damaging forces of Cyclone Ami."

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