Seruiratu Calls for Police Probe into Manumanunitoga’s Post

Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu has called on the Fiji Police Force to investigate a Facebook post attributed to Fijian Teachers Association General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga, condemning its language as racist, inflammatory and threatening.

In a media statement, Seruiratu urged police to determine whether the remarks constituted offences relating to threats, incitement to violence or communal antagonism.

“No individual, regardless of their position, ethnicity or standing in society, should be above the law,” he said.

Seruiratu said references to people being from their “original country” and to “you and your kind” sought to question the belonging of certain communities in Fiji.

He also condemned the alleged threat to “catch you and roast you in earth ovens,” saying it could not be dismissed as harmless rhetoric or an emotional outburst.

Seruiratu said the remarks were particularly concerning because they were attributed to an official of an organisation representing teachers, who are entrusted with teaching children respect, tolerance and equality.

He said respect for traditional chiefs could not be demanded through intimidation, racial insults or threats, and chiefly leadership should not be invoked to justify hatred and division.

“Fiji does not belong to one race alone. Fiji is home to all its citizens, whether iTaukei, Indo-Fijian, Rotuman, Chinese or members of our other communities,” he said.

Seruiratu said the remarks came amid sensitive discussions about constitutional reform, when responsible leadership and respect for differing views were needed.

He also called on the FTA leadership to publicly clarify whether the conduct reflected the association’s values, warning that silence risked undermining public confidence.

“Racism must be condemned wherever it comes from, regardless of who makes the remarks or which community is targeted,” he said.