Fiji Warns Against Suspected ‘Organized Movement’ Inciting Violence on Eve of Election

Melanesian children float on a bamboo pontoon on the resort-studded Coral Coast of Fiji on Nov. 11, 2003. Torsten Blackwood/AFP via Getty Images

Fiji’s anti-corruption agency on Tuesday warned citizens against a suspected “organized movement” behind fake emails inciting racial violence following the arrest of a suspect on the eve of the country’s general election.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) said that a suspect had been arrested for sending fake emails alleging that churches and temples would be the target of terrorist attacks from Dec. 8 to Dec. 11.

The fake emails also stated that “some prominent politicians and businessmen” will be the targets of assaults during that period, without naming any specific individuals, the agency announced on Twitter. FICAC claimed these emails were scams.

“However, it is suspected that there is an organized movement behind this scam and further investigations are underway,” the agency said.

FICAC warned the public to be vigilant of “organized criminal activities attempting to create instability during the election time,” although it did not elaborate on the details of the detained suspect.

“We request the public to report such criminal activities to FICAC immediately,” it added.

The arrest comes just a day before more than 692,000 Fijian voters head to the polls on Wednesday.

Ahead of Elections

Fiji, a Pacific island nation pivotal to the region’s response to strategic competition between China and the United States, imposed a strict campaign and media blackout ahead of the polls on Monday.

The blackout requires political parties to remove banners, posters, and flags from public display. No one is allowed to distribute any campaign material via social media or electronic means, according to local reports.

The blackout will be in effect until the polls close on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Elections supervisor Mohammed Saneem warned that political parties would be considered in violation of the media blackout if their campaign materials were found on car windshields or store windows.

“If there have been stickers not taken out from cars because the owner didn’t take it out, then the party and the candidate is also responsible, and we will not hesitate to refer these breaches to FICAC,” Saneem said, according to ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Company).

Media organizations are not allowed to publish, print, or broadcast campaign advertisements, debates, opinions, or interviews about the election until the blackout ends.

“People very quickly are able to send us pictures of breaches on Facebook and social media. Some have even gone to the extent of employing fake accounts to send us some breaches,” Saneem said.

A multinational observer group led by Australia, India, and Indonesia will see over 90 election observers monitor polling booths from 16 different countries and the national vote-counting center.

Democratic Process

A Pacific trade and transport hub with a population of 900,000, including a sizeable Indian ethnic group, Fiji had a history of military coups until the constitution was changed in 2013 to remove a race-based electoral system.

Its military chief, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, told officers in a public speech this month to “honor the democratic process by respecting the outcome of the voting,” easing fears the closely contested national election could lead to another coup.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who came to power in a 2006 coup, won democratic elections in 2014 and 2018. He is seeking another term in office.

Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama attends a meeting on Day 3 of COP26 at SECC in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 2, 2021. Phil Noble/Getty Images

Bainimarama has a high international profile for climate change advocacy and has been chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum as it sought this year to manage rising security tensions between the United States and China.

He will face off against rival Sitiveni Rabuka, a former coup leader and prime minister, whose People’s Alliance Party has formed a coalition with Fiji’s oldest political party, the National Federation Party.

Fiji hosted a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the region in February, where Washington committed more diplomatic and security resources as a counter to China’s drive for greater influence.

The Pacific island nation strengthened its security ties with Australia, its biggest aid donor during the pandemic, after Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China in April.

Reuters contributed to this report.