“Keep election campaigns clean and clear from religious vilification and racial discrimination.”

This was highlighted by Electoral Commission Chair, Suresh Chandra who says there has been numerous claims of religious criticism and campaigns creating racial tension particularly in pocket meetings.

Chandra says all political parties and its representatives must understand that this is not right and there’s no room for such behaviour in Fiji’s electoral environment.

He adds the commission is disappointed that these incidences are still being brought to their attention, where representatives from political parties are using race and religion.

The Commission says it will not tolerate this and will be working with the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption.

“We have this morning had a meeting with FICAC– the investigation and prosecution agency in electoral framework and we have asked FICAC to immediately investigate and finalize all complaints in relation to elections. FICAC has assured us that they will deal with this type of complaints expediently and take cases to court where they find there is sufficiently evidence to support a charge.”*

Fijians who happen to be present at these meetings have been urged to use their phones record such behaviour and lodge their complaints to the Commission or FICAC directly.

Political parties must also have their own disciplinary process to deal with breaches by their own representatives and to keep the build up to the election clean.