Opposition Leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa has raised an urgent question in parliament asking the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on whether SODELPA parliamentarians need to apply for a permit for their constituency meetings in Suva from tonight.
SODELPA has advertised three public meetings from tonight however Police say they need to have permits for these meetings as they are calling for everyone to attend the meet.
Opposition MP, Semesa Karavaki also raised the issue on whether the Police will grant them the permit today if they make the application some time today.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says any political party having public meetings will need to apply for a permit. He says Police will decide on the issuance of the permit.
SODELPA parliamentarian, Mosese Bulitavo then asked the Attorney General if he can give a directive to allow the meeting to go ahead.
Sayed-Khaiyum says this cannot be done as the Solicitor General gave an independent legal advice and Police also act independently.
Under section 8 of the Public Order Act, any person who wishes to organize or convene a meeting or procession in a public place shall first make an application for a permit in that behalf to the appropriate authority and, unless such authority is satisfied for good reason that such a meeting or procession is likely to prejudice the maintenance of peace of good order, he shall issue a permit specifying ‑ (b) in the case of a meeting, the purpose for which and the place or times at or between which, such meeting may be held and such other conditions as he may think fit to impose.
Every application for a permit under the provisions of the section shall be made in writing to the appropriate authority at least seven days, or within such lesser time as he may specify in any particular case, prior to the date on which it is proposed to organize or convene a meeting.
The provisions of the section do not apply to processions solely in connection with marriages or funerals.
