Bainimarama refutes SDL claims
Tuesday September 04, 2007

Fiji’s interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama says he did not give any directive stopping the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party from holding management meetings.

This follows claims by the SDL party that a directive was given by the military, ordering ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase not to hold any such meetings.

“No one has made an order stopping the party from meeting and this is a non-issue to us.”

“It’s better for me not to comment on such issues because as far as I am concerned it’s insignificant,” Bainimarama told Fijilive.

However Qarase said he had been informed by SDL party director, Peceli Kinivuwai they were not allowed to hold any more management meetings.

“If they stop us from meeting in person than we have other means of meeting because anything is possible,” Qarase said.

“I was reliably informed by our director that the military has stopped us from meeting and we are very concerned about this.”

“If the interim government can allow the Fiji Labour Party to hold meetings and public rallies, why are they stopping us?”

He said there’s no point in stopping the party from meeting because other parties are doing the same.

“Our meetings will go on and if we do get another order from the military we will resort to other means of communication.”

He said he has directed Kinivuwai to talk with the military and inform them of their plans and the purpose of their meetings.