FijiFirst general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says political party leaders should refrain from making running commentary about ongoing investigations undertaken by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

He said it could jeopardise due process.

He added that The People’s Alliance Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka should act like a former Prime Minister.

“Rabuka has no ethics in the sense that being a former Prime Minister, he should know the due process.

If he has been arrested or if he’s been asked to come to an interview, he goes through the process,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“Why are they trying to post the whole thing or do live commentary on social media? I mean, he should know that as a former Prime Minister; if tomorrow somebody’s been called in by the Police to come and ask a few questions.

Are you going to do a running commentary on that?

“Aren’t you jeopardising the due process? You need a particular responsibility and unfortunately, this is what it has come to.

We today see in particular The People’s Alliance including their leader and members making all sorts of running commentaries and everything and bypassing due process.”

Mr Rabuka, while responding to this statement, said The People’s Alliance respects the law and the processes of the investigations, however the people also need to be aware of the process of investigations they have come under.

Complaints Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said it was important for political parties to follow the law.

“We will continue to complain.

Just as any other political party has the right to complain against us.

They can do that, with no problems.

You go through due process,” he said.

“We urge the Fijian Elections Office to implement the law.

The law must be implemented, the law is equally applicable to everybody.

If one party continues to breach, they can’t say oh, they’re complaining against us.

Well, you stop breaching the law.

“The complaints are actually trying to ensure proper democracy, true democracy. Democracy is about creating a level playing field in the lead up to any elections.

“If tomorrow one of our 20 candidates here goes out and starts giving free things and says vote for me, please complain about that.”

Story By: wati.talebula@fijisun.com.fj