No soldiers are going to come and take you to camp, said Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua while speaking at the National Federation Party’s (NFP) Rakiraki branch AGM on Saturday.
He said the NFP had provided a stable environment for Fiji.
“I think through the party and my own participation we have been able to provide the stable environment that Fiji and we all have been able to work together to restore democracy,” Mr Tikoduadua said.
“This is something that has just been realised over the last two and a half years.
“People are trying to juggle those rights and these newly enjoyed privileges so to speak that we have been able to re-enjoy again.
“So, while you hear stories that are not so good and at the moment there are many stories that don’t actually sound very good to our ears.
“No soldier is going to come and take you to camp, and no police is going to come and take you away.
“And that means your voice and your rights is important, which means that sometimes the things you say we don’t necessarily like.
“And of course there are people that take advantage of the situation, and then enjoy politicking and all they do is to rubbish people.
“There are politicians and political parties that thrive on that.
“And I think on social media you hear these and you experience it and some of them have continued to get arrested because of fake news.
“But these are the enemies of the opposition to proper democracy.
“If you have a country that enjoys rights, and these rights ,what they actually mean that the good things don’t come to you, they also mean that the tough things also come to you.
“Your leaders will become challenged, and your views will have to be scrutinised.
“So, any good government allows itself to be critiqued fairly Whether that government is able to respond to your needs, and the fact that you are able to raise your views without fear or favour.”
