Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the front page story of yesterday’s Fiji Sun – “Register first, AG Warns Youth Activists; only three can” - is inaccurate, and contains outright fabrications.
Sayed-Khaiyum said in an interview last Wednesday with the Fiji Sun, he reiterated the point that those looking to form political parties could say they were intending to form a party when going out to get signatures, but only registered political parties can hold themselves out to be political parties.
Sayed-Khaiyum said he was told that a group of people were campaigning as a political party, and was then asked whether this was allowed.
To this, he responded that he did not know the specific details, but that groups cannot hold themselves out to be political parties if they have not registered.
The Attorney General said at no point was a proposed political party named, and at no point did he warn youth activists.
He said in fact, the government is very encouraged by the fact that young people are engaging with the political process.
Sayed-Khaiyum said with the voting age now at 18, young Fijians have the opportunity, for the first time, to stand up and make their voices heard.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
