Against SODELPA Member of Parliament Mosese Bulitavu “for inciting hatred against the Indo-Fijian community on the grounds of ethnicity, race and gender”.

by selita bolanavanua

Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission director Ashwin Raj.

Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission director Ashwin Raj has lodged an official complaint with the Fiji Police Force.

Mr Raj said this was in his capacity as a private citizen and against SODELPA Member of Parliament Mosese Bulitavu “for inciting hatred against the Indo-Fijian community on the grounds of ethnicity, race and gender”.

He said he lodged the complaint because everyone had the constitutional right to be protected against hate speeches.

“Honorable Bulitavu is a Member of Parliament and by virtue of the fact that he is a representative of the people he exerts preponderant influence over the public and how they view various communities and inter-ethnic relations in Fiji,” Mr Raj said.

“Our social media is saturated with hate speech and people get away with it. As much as Bulitavu has reportedly ‘unreservedly’ apologised, I do not believe for a second that his apology is sincere. He has merely succumbed to political pressure.”

Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho confirmed to the Fiji Sun that they had received Mr Raj’s report and were looking into the complaint.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: selita.bolanavanua@fijisun.com.fj