The Fiji Human Rights Commission said there are certain provisions in the 1997 Constitution which can limit the participation of individuals and political parties in a general election.
After statements by the Interim Prime Minister that the SDL party will not be allowed to contest the next elections, Commission Director Dr Shaista Shameem said there are certain criteria which each party and candidate must meet before they can be allowed to contest an elections.
According to Dr Shameem, the CERD Committee has already recommended legislations against race based organizations.
Section 58(2)(c) of the 1997 Constitution states that a person is not qualified to contest an election if the person has an interest in an agreement or contract entered into with the government or a government authority, being an interest prescribed by parliament as an interest that must not be held by a member of the parliament or a presiding officer of parliament.
However, ousted Opposition Leader said 80 percent of Fiji's population will not be allowed to vote freely if the SDL is barred from contesting the next general elections.
Mick Beddoes said this will be an injustice to the indigenous Fijian people.
Fiji Labour Party President Jokapeci Koroi when contacted on the matter said she is also a member of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji and will not comment.
After the SDL party AGM resolved that the NCBBF should be immediately dismantled, the Interim Prime Minister stressed that the military and the interim government will ensure the SDL party does not contest the next elections as the SDL is continuing to oppose the National Council for Building a Better Fiji and the People's Charter process.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama said the SDL is unlikely to suit the political sphere of the country as it does not want the charter to take the country forward.
Election Participation Can Be Restricted
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