‘Fiji descending into a police state’

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Unity Fiji party leader Savenaca Narube. Picture: SUPPLIED/FIJIAN PARLIAMENT

FIJI is descending into the abyss of a police state, says Unity Fiji party leader Savenaca Narube.

He made the statement in response to the draft Police Bill 2020.

He says the focus of the Bill is on the 2022 general election.

“The draconian measures in this Bill are to legally allow Government to wield dangerous powers on the people of Fiji, especially its political opponents in the 2022 election,” he said.

The former Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor said the Bill was a means by Government to stay in power.

“This Government knows that their grip on power is surely being eroded by their abuse of human rights, poor economic and financial management and just plain insensitive and immature decisions.

“They will use all their powers to cling on to power and this Bill will be their instrument to achieving that end.”

Mr Narube said he was concerned about proposals in the Bill such as powers of police to seize phones and computers without a warrant, tap into phones and hack into computers without a warrant and extreme penalty of life imprisonment if an individual does not give passwords.

“These are weapons commonly used by despots in a police states.

“They reflect the mentality of the Government to devise laws to get its way, never mind the cost.”

He called on people to make their voices heard during the public submissions on the Bill.

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