20 Apr 2010

Fiji pension cuts now affect 35 SDL members

1:02 pm on 20 April 2010

The impact of the pension cutting decree in Fiji is continuing to increase.

In January, the legal directive was introduced setting out provisions to stop the government pensions of anyone who criticises or undermines the regime or incites hatred.

Fiji's SDL party says it now knows of 35 party members who have lost their parliamentary pensions.

The party, which was ousted in 2006, says the members were those who have served as either MPs or cabinet ministers.

The SDL general secretary, Peceli Kinivuwai, says it was expected the pensions decree would only be imposed on those who have spoken out.

But he says it appears all party members in government have been hit.

That includes Fiji's former Finance Minister, Ratu Jone Kubuabola, whose brother, Inoke, is the foreign minister in the interim regime.

Ratu Jone says he was disappointed not to be notified of the pension decision in writing and given an opportunity to respond with reasons why his parliamentary pension should not be cut.