Fiji army says some NGOs undermining the government

Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has expressed concern about NGO groups that are funded or sponsored to advance issues that are opposed to the the Government’s policies.

In written submissions to the Constitution Commission, the military said these practices were aimed at undermining and destabilising the good work done by the government.

The Military proposes that if the NGOs are to operate, they have to be transparent in their practices and funding.

Their submission recommends that all NGOs present annual audited accounts to the government, disclosing all funding in any form and disclosing any additional assets of the organisation.

The chairperson of the NGO’s Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji says if critics of the interim government are under police surveillance, it casts doubts about whether the regime is genuine about restoring democracy to the country.

Shamima Ali’s name has appeared in a document posted to the blog site Coupfourpointfive, which lists about 70 people including leaders of political parties, and trade unionists.

The report which includes comments about where people have travelled and who they’ve met, is allegedly compiled by the Fiji police, but the assistant commissioner says he’s not aware of its existence.

Shamima Ali says people like herself have been told by police sources in the past that they are under surveillance but she had hoped things had changed.

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News category: Asia Pacific.

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