Response To PM’s Comments On Teleni, Fiji Sun

Response To PM’s Comments On Teleni, Fiji Sun 31/8/2010

18 months ago (February 2009) the Citizens Constitutional Forum (CCF) called on Police Commissioner Esala Teleni to resign following reports that he had convened a separate meeting of his Indo-Fijian police officers, and in that meeting issued threats of their removal if they continued relaying their dissatisfaction with his leadership to the media.

We felt that the basic human rights principle of the Right to Equality and Freedom of Religion and Belief were endangered when racist rhetoric was allowed to go unchallenged. CCF believes that leaders in state institutions should set a good example to their followers on the basic principles of human rights. Freedom of Religion and Belief is a core human right entitlement which intends to achieve peace and harmony in the world through religious tolerance.

Now that Teleni has stepped down voluntarily from the post we think that any reappointment to other working places in Government should be made through normal PSC procedures and proper and transparent processes. Due consideration should also be given to the fact that all civil servants and military officers of Fiji need to set a good example to the nation by strict adherence to principles of human rights.

A diverse multi-racial and multi-religious country such as Fiji needs civil servants, and particularly those in position of leadership, who are unbiased towards race and religion.

ENDS

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