Suva will not be allowed to burn as it did in 2000 in one of the most disgraceful episodes in our nation’s history.
Those are the words of Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama while speaking at the launch of Fiji’s tallest building project in Suva last night.
With less than a week away from general elections, Bainimarama said under his government, Fiji has moved on and is a nation of equal opportunity, fairness and justice for all.
He said that he is very disappointed that some of the forces who were responsible for much of the trauma that people suffered in 1987 and 2000 have re-emerged from the shadows in this election campaign.
Bainimarama said people must choose the path of unity, of ethnic and religious tolerance.
He said people must drown out the voices of division and negativity with a chorus of unity and hope.
The Prime Minister said he is shocked by some of the threats that have been made in this campaign, not only against individuals but entire ethnic groups.
He said it is simply not acceptable for any Fijian to threaten to kill another Fijian because of what he or she may have said in the way of a political opinion.
Bainimarama said this is what is happening on certain blogs and on Facebook.
The Prime Minister also said that it is unacceptable for any Fijian to say that our 45 UN peacekeepers held in Syria deserved what happened to them and should even be executed.
He said this is what is being said on certain blogs.
Bainimarama also said that it is not acceptable for any Fijian to threaten violence against Indo Fijians or any group if their particular political party does not win the election next week.
The Prime Minister has made it clear that the Army Commander and Police Commissioner agree with him that the full brunt of the security forces and the full brunt of the law will descend on any person or persons who cause trouble or who try to stir up trouble before, during and after the election period.
