Alleged ‘Eviction’ Threats to Fijians of Indian Descent

The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) of Fiji has landed in controversy after reports of the alleged eviction threats to Fijians of Indian decent, if they don’t vote for the party in the upcoming elections.

‘Eviction Threat’

Litia Rawiriwiri – the national President of the SODELPA Women’s Wing and wife of a party executive allegedly made eviction threats to a group of Fijian women of Indian descent in Moala settlement in Nadera, last week. According to the media reports, Rawiriwiri asked women to bring their voter identification and registration cards so that their details could be recorded. She informed them that, ‘she would know if the women and their husbands did not vote for SODELPA from the data that would be released.’

Rawiriwiri denied making such statements to the women of the area. “It is a free country. Anyone can vote for anyone here,” FijiSun Online reported quoting her.

Tenancy at Will Arrangement

Gauging the sensitivity of the issue landowners from the area have came out and said that Mrs Rawiriwiri does not represent them. However the residents of the area say that she has been constantly in contact with them regarding the land they occupy on vakavanua (Tenancy at Will) arrangements. Vakavanuaan is an informal settlement or Will arrangement that does not contain proper lease documents.

Getting into the quick damage control mode, SODELPA MPs Ro Kiniviliame Kiliraki and Aseri Radrodro have said that the party will conduct an internal investigation into media reports. In a statement issued on Monday they said:

“We are saddened that our proud province and our people have to come under such unwarranted attention. We don’t know if this is a political move to bring disrepute to the party and to our province, but we wish to register our disappointment…our people and our chiefs have long accommodated people from all races to live on our lands. So we ask that people do not generalise and have fear that they will be victimized because of their political affiliation.”

Fiji PM Meets the Settlers

Meanwhile the Prime Minister of Fiji and the leader of FijiFirst party Voreqe Bainimarama assured the women in the area that they can vote at their will. “It is your right to choose your own political party and it is your right to vote without fear,” FijiSun Online reported quoting him.

The Fijian Elections Office has filed a complaint against Litia Rawiriwiri. The complaint will be probed by Fiji’s Independent Commission against Corruption.