THE report of the Multinational Observer Group on Fiji’s 2018 polls has put forward a number of worthwhile recommendations which the Government will consider, says Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. As per practice, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said, the MOG report would be tabled before Parliament.
“In our next session, we will be making a ministerial statement in Parliament on the full contents of the report,” he said in a statement issued last night.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum welcomed the report that had deemed our 2018 General Election fully credible and an accurate representation of the genuine will of the Fijian people.
“This finding represents another historic occasion in our young democracy, as we have successfully met the high bar set by the free and fair general election conducted in 2014.
“Free, fair and credible elections are the heart and soul of a truly democratic system. “It should be a point of pride for every Fijian that Fiji has once again held an election that has met high international standards and that has delivered a Government freely chosen by the majority of Fijians.
“We sincerely thank all of those who participated in the MOG, and particularly thank the group co-ordinator, Alice Cawte, for her leadership on the ground in the lead-up and during our election in 2018.”
He said the MOG’s mandate was clear and transparent, and Ms Cawte’s team delivered an independent, professional, and thorough assessment of the 2018 election.
“The Fijian Government has invested historic levels of funding towards the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) and the Electoral Commission in the interest of enhancing Fiji’s electoral democracy.
“The findings of the MOG are a well-deserved validation of the hard work of the leadership and staff of the FEO and the Electoral Commission in delivering an election that has met high international standards in fairness and credibility.”
However, the National Federation Party continues to stand by its belief that the Government will not implement the recommendations of the MOG for Fiji’s future elections.
Party leader Professor Biman Prasad claimed scant regard was given to the MOG report and the report of the Electoral Commission after the 2014 General Election.
“The reports were referred to the parliamentary standing committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights but the committee did not report back to Parliament for 28 months from then until 1st October, 2018 when Parliament was dissolved,” Prof Prasad said in a statement yesterday.
“The MOG report should have noted this but failed to do so. This is most unfortunate.”
Prof Prasad believes this report would face a similar fate because its recommendations would prevent Government from giving out handouts and freebies once Parliament was dissolved and the writ of elections issued.
“It will also prevent deliberately orchestrated social media hate campaign that we fell victims to when fake news sites carrying legitimate logos of mainstream media were created and published malicious and frivolous claims that NFP was in a coalition with SODELPA and further that Sitiveni Rabuka would abolish Diwali as a public holiday.
“This was noted with concern by MOG.
“The sites were eventually removed but by then irreparable damage had been done.”
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem in a statement issued on Wednesday, said that the MOG report had stated that the 2018 poll was free and credible.
“We also note that the Multinational Observer Group found that conditions were in place for Fijians to exercise their right freely, which means that the conditions for a free and fair election were met in the 2018 General Election.”
Mr Saneem said recommendations in the report would be given due consideration to analyse and assess in terms of applicability and usefulness.
