23 Jun 2010

Fiji's CCF says human rights abused over reaction to rumour

3:06 pm on 23 June 2010

Fiji's Citizens Constitutional Forum says the police detention of the head of the Rugby Football Union, Bill Gavoka, since Sunday is unwarranted and breaches his human rights.

The forum's CEO, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki, says the act of circulating emails to people about a claims made by a religious group about an impending disaster shouldn't be classified as a crime.

He says he's continuing to call for Mr Gavoka's release.

"Everyone has a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Everyone has a right to freedom of opinion and expression. And these things, things like numerous predictions, which have been made before by religious leaders all over the world about impending religious disasters in the world, should be taken with a sense of humour and just forget it. We don't think its a crime."

Fiji's Citizens' Constitutional Forum's CEO, Reverend Akuila Yabaki.

According to the rumour at the centre of the police action, the tidal wave should have struck earlier this afternoon.