Fiji: Police continue to block march on Palestine while university unions hold strike despite threats of pay dock

The state of civic space in Fiji is rated as ‘obstructed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor. While the government took steps in 2023 to repeal a restrictive media law and reversed travel bans on critics, the Public Order (Amendment) Act, which has been used to restrict peaceful assembly and expression and sedition provisions in the Crimes Act, remains in place. The police have also restricted pro-Palestinian marches.

The government has continued to take steps to address human rights issues in Fiji. In July 2024, it was reported that the Fiji Corrections Service had signed an agreement with the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission to provide them access to monitor inmates in prison facilities.

In August 2024, a task force known as Fiji’s National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF) was launched by the Attorney-General Graham Leung. The establishment of the human rights task force is to coordinate Fiji’s engagement with international human rights bodies, including the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, the Universal Periodic Review and the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.

In September 2024, it was announced that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) would be established to investigate and address human rights violations since 1987. TRC steering committee chair and Assistant Minister for Women Sashi Kiran said that they are working on drafting a piece of legislation on this and that the commission would operate independently from the government.

In recent months, the police once again blocked an application by civil society groups to hold a march for Palestine, while university unions were threatened with a pay dock for their involvement in a strike.

Peaceful Assembly

Police deny solidarity march calling for an end to genocide in Palestine

The authorities have continued to restrict the right to peaceful assembly, particularly around Palestine.

On 7th October 2024, the police denied permission for a march in the capital Suva by the NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji. Fiji Police Force ACP Operations Livai Driu said: ‘The decision was made based on security reasons’.

The march was intended to express solidarity with the Palestinian people amidst the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The coalition’s application to hold the march was met with repeated delays and questioning by government authorities.

The coalition said that this was “reminiscent of a dictatorial system of the past”.

They added: “It is shameful that the Fiji Coalition Government which has lauded itself internationally and regionally as being a promoter of human rights and peace has continued to curtail the rights of its citizens by denying permit applications calling for an end to the Genocide in Gaza.”

Activists also pointed out the double standards by the police, as permits were provided to a group in support of Israel to march through Suva and wave the Israeli flag.

The restriction around protests on Palestine and waving the Palestinian flag has persisted for over a year. As previously documented, the activists have had to hold their solidarity gatherings in the premises of the FWCC office as the police have restricted solidarity marches, under the Public Order (Amendment) Act 2014. The law allows the government to refuse permits for any public meeting or march deemed to prejudice the maintenance of peace or good order. It has often been misused by the authorities to restrict or block peaceful gatherings and demonstrations, restricting the right to peaceful assembly and association. Protest gatherings at FWCC have also faced intimidation.

The UN Human Rights Council and human rights groups have called for the repeal of restrictive provisions in the law including the requirement for a police permit for protests, which is inconsistent with international standards.

These restrictions on solidarity marches for Palestine are inconsistent with Fiji’s international human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which guarantees freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. These actions also contravene Fiji’s constitution that guarantees these rights.

University threatens to dock pay of union members on strike

In October 2024, members of The Association of the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the University of the South Pacific Staff Union who went on strike were reportedly threatened by the university. The human resource office said they would not be paid if they were not in office during the strike.

The unions commenced strike action on 18th October 2024 in protest against the poor governance and leadership at the university by Vice Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia and the termination of former staff union (AUSPS) president Dr Tamara Osborne Naikatini, calling for her to be reinstated.

The unions expressed dissatisfaction following the recent release of the Special Council meeting outcome, which they say misleadingly framed serious grievances as mere human resource issues to be investigated rather than investigating Ahluwalia. The unions say they have been raising concerns for months and called for Ahluwalia to be suspended and for a timely investigation.

Alongside the staff members currently standing in protest were also several groups of students. On 24th October 2024, the students led a march at the University of the South Pacific Laucala campus that ended in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. The students claim that Ahluwalia does not consider the best interests of the students and call for his replacement.

The USP is owned by 12 Pacific nations, which contribute a total 20 percent of its annual income, and with campuses in all the islands.