Suvavou villagers presented their petition at the Suva City Council office over the rezoning of the proposed land that will accommodate new Indian High Commission building.

More than 200 villagers were present at the council office to present 2,000 letters of objection signed by the villagers.

Suva City Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bijay Chand advised the villagers that a cover letter and a proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Local Government stating the villagers request on a no touch policy on Thurston garden and other areas around it to build the Indian embassy.

Spokesperson Josefa Navara requested that Government look deeper into the historical status of their so called ancestral land.

“Please do not touch our ancestor’s burial site because we honor and respect it.”

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Ashneel Sudhakar had stated in Parliament earlier this month that the Suva City Council was approached by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Lands and Mineral Resources in 2014.

He said the proposed land was an unused part of the gardens and is used as a carpark.

The land was state owned, he said.