Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

CCF rejects Bainiamarama’s funding claims

Posted at 05:22 on 19 September, 2007 UTC

The Fiji Citizens Constitutional Forum, or CCF, has dismissed the interim government’s accusation of being paid by New Zealand and Australia to make statements.

The interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has accused the CCF’s executive director, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki, of being paid by Australia, New Zealand and the United States to make comments against the reintroduction of the emergency regulations earlier this month.

But the Reverend Yabaki says that’s not true.

“That is mischievous and misleading. We are engaged with this interim administration. We are wiling to contribute to the interim government’s charter and move towards good governance. So this should provide evidence that CCF judges its activities by its full merit and not according to donor demands.”

Akuila Yabaki says it is in fact paradoxical because some donors have accused his organisation of being pro-interim government.

The Reverend Yabaki says the emergency regulations are not wanted by the majority of Fiji’s population.