30 Nov 2006

Suva mayor to take legal action against Fiji military

4:45 pm on 30 November 2006

The lord mayor of Fiji's capital city wants to take the military to court for the exercises conducted by armed soldiers in Suva last night.

Ratu Peni Volavola, who is from the ruling SDL party, has told Radio Legend they will take action because the military intruded in the privacy of the city and invaded the municipality.

He says there was no state of emergency and for the military to carry out such an exercise was out of the ordinary.

Mayor Volavola says it was the height of insolence and disrespect shown to the city father and those who administer the capital.

But the assistant police commissioner for operations, Jahir Khan, says the military does not need approval from any authority for training exercises.

Mr Khan says there are no restrictions on military exercises under the law and it can do any exercise at any time provided the instructions are issued by the commander.