Fiji’s opposition parties SODELPA and National Federation Party said they walked out of the Fijian Parliament this morning because they were unhappy with the decision made by Speaker of the House Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
Ratu Epeli disallowed an urgent question and a motion filed by NFP and SODELPA respectively relating to the deportation of Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife Sandra Price.
The parties’ question and motion sought answers from the Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration to explain what the couple had done that was in breach of section 13 of the Immigration Act that prompted their detention and subsequent deportation last week.
However the speaker of the house Ratu Epeli Nailatikau ruled that the question was not urgent, resulting in the walk-out by opposition members.
SODELPA members returned to parliament proceedings soon after the morning break except NFP members who opted to stay out of parliament for the whole day.
“Fiji’s credibility as a leading state in the South Pacific region is at stake. So is the future of USP, where thousands of Fiji students study. USP is an institution which has trained thousands more Fiji citizens over 50 years. Fiji’s shaky reputation for basic human rights has once again been called into question all over the world,” an NFP statement read.
“How can the Speaker say that these questions are not urgent or important.”
