The Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs, Naipote Katonitabua revealed in the sedition trial of The Fiji Times and others today that he had sent emails from March to August 2016 to The Fiji Times about Nai Lalakai articles.
Katonitabua told Assistant DPP, Lee Burney that this was done as concerns were being raised by the iTaukei people from the Nai Lalakai article.
He says that the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs continues to monitor the Nai Lalakai newspaper until today.
Katonitabua says the people said to the Ministry’s Public Relations Team that the information was from the Nai Lalakai. He says the Ministry was concerned because the iTaukei people’s remarks about the newspaper article in question were only being shared amongst themselves without a third party available to clarify the issues.
Burney then referred to contributor, Josaia Waqabaca’s letter that was published in the Nai Lalakai which said ‘Muslims are not the indigenous of this country. It is a people that have invaded other nations, for example Bangladesh, India, where they killed, raped and abused their women and children. Let us never forget Serua, Lodoni, Namena and Dawasamu which spreads to the 14 provinces.’
Katonitabua says the parcels of land in those areas in Fiji are different in terms of their ownership. He says the Ministry of Lands is working to return those pieces of land to the landowning units.
When asked by the prosecution, Katonitabua said that they find that the Nai Lalakai is very popular and one copy is shared by different people.
When asked by Burney on whether there is 4G and television already in the areas where concerns were being raised about the Nai Lalakai article, Katonitabua said that is not the Ministry’s experience when they go out to these iTaukei communities.
Fiji Times Limited, Publisher Hank Arts and Contributor, Josaia Waqabaca have pleaded not guilty to sedition while Fiji Times Editor Fred Wesley and Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula have pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting sedition.
It is alleged that Fiji Times printed the Nai Lalakai newspaper which contained an article which had content with a seditious intention to promote feelings of ill will and hostility between classes of the population.
The case continues before High Court Judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.
