The Suva Lord Mayor has issued a stern warning to the Muanivatu squatter residents to move out or they will be physically removed from the land they are occupying at the end of this month.

Ratu Peni Volavola said the Muanivatu residents from Vatuwaqa should not have any false hope that the Suva City Council (SCC) will assist them in relocating to another area.

He said it is the residents' problem to find a place to stay.

"The Council is not in the business of land development, housing or anything like that. So it is not the responsibility of the council to relocate squatters to another new area," Volavola said. "This particular area that we’re talking about is under a development lease to the council and we wish to develop the land for the purpose which the lease is given to us.They’re saying that the council is to find an alternative site for them to relocate them to – I ask the question: where were they came to this particular place at Muanivatu."

Volavola said they were ready to bulldoze the Muanivatu squatter settlement in 2003 but the then government had intervened and assured the council that the squatters will be relocated.

He said they have the option to bulldoze the area if the residents refuse to move out by the end of the month.

"First and last it is not the responsibility of the council to relocate them. Their relocation is their business," he said.

He warned that law enforcement will be used to help in the removal of squatters.

"If we have to do it - we’ll have to do it physically. We will have to do that with the assistance of law enforcement – the police, of course. We have the legal members do their thing and we will do it," Volavola said.

I Won’t Move says Tui Suva Publish date/time: 04/07/2008 [07:32]
If there's any development to be done in Muanivatu, it will be done around my house because this is my land and I will not move.

That was what the Tui Suva Ratu Epeli Kanakana said about the eviction notice that was served to him by the Suva City Council.

Ratu Epeli said what the council doesn't realize is the land he is occupying is his own and it’s not called Muanivatu but Nacara.

He added that the council should not confuse his situation with those in Muanivatu, because the land in Muanivatu belongs to the government unlike the one his house is sitting on, which rightly belongs to him.

Ratu Epeli was among residents at the Muanivatu squatter settlement who were served eviction notices by the Suva City Council and have been given a month to vacate the land.

He reiterated that he will not be pressured by anyone to move and will take legal action if necessary.

Muanivatu Residents Ask for Govt Assistance Publish date/time: 02/07/2008 [07:38]
Residents of a squatter settlement in Suva that were served with eviction notices have asked the government to help them relocate to another area.

Speaking on behalf of the residents of Muanivatu in Vatuwaqa, head of the Peoples Community Network Mesake Dakai, said most of the residents are poor and from the outer islands, and they want to be relocated somewhere near the Suva area.

Dakai admits that the residents understand that they are staying illegally and they have asked the Suva City Council and the government to hold talks with the residents.

He requests the government to understand the problems faced by many of the residents since many of them are casual workers and poorly paid.

The residents have been given till the end of the month to move out from the Muanivatu settlement.
FHRC Receives Squatter Report Publish date/time: 04/07/2008 [11:50]
The Fiji Human Rights Commission has confirmed receiving the Ecumenical Research Education and Advocacy report on the problems faced by those living in the Muanivatu squatter settlement in Vatuwaqa and their possible eviction at the end of this month.

FHRC Chairperson confirmed receiving the report however she has declined to comment further on the issue.

On behalf of the residents of Muanivatu in Vatuwaqa, head of the Peoples Community Network, Mesake Dakai had earlier said most of the residents are poor and from the outer islands, and they want to be relocated somewhere near the Suva area, urging the authorities to look into the issue quickly as they have been given till the end of the month to move out.

The Suva Lord Mayor Ratu Peni Volavola this morning issued a stern warning to the Muanivatu squatter residents to move out or they will be physically removed from the land they are occupying at the end of this month as it is the residents' problem to find a place to stay.