Fiji's Speaker of Parliament has dismissed a petition by the Opposition calling for an investigation into Grace Roads Church in Fiji.
Shin Ok-ju, the founder of Grace Road Church, was jailed in South Korea in 2019 for enslaving some 400 followers in Fiji. Photo: Grace Road Church
The Social Democratic Liberal Party requested a parliamentary inquiry into the operations of the church and its more than 400 members in Fiji.
The founder of Grace Roads Church, Shin Ok-ju, was jailed last year by a South Korean court for detaining her followers in Fiji and subjecting them to violent beatings and forced labour.
SODELPA MP Lynda Tabuya told Parliament the church was founded on hate and Shin Ok-ju had assaulted her followers and promoted racism.
But Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau dismissed Ms Tabuya's petition saying Parliament did not have a mandate and police were responsible for any investigation.
Ratu Epeli said every non-citizen lawfully in Fiji, had the right to remain in the country until a court ruled otherwise.
He said Parliament had not been given a mandate to restrict the right through the petitions process.
He also dismissed two other petitions submitted by the opposition.
Leader of Opposition, Sitiveni Rabuka, in his petition called on the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights to conduct a holistic inquiry into the new requirements needed for voter registration.
Mr Rabuka raised his concerns about the need for birth certificates to renew voter identification cards and the ban on married women using their husband's name, unless they changed it by deed poll.
But the Speaker said Parliament did not have the responsibility on the matter.
Ratu Epeli said the Constitution firmly entrenched these matters as the responsibility of the Electoral Commission.
Opposition MP Lynda Tabuya also submitted a petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry into domestic violence.
But the Speaker disallowed her petition saying there was already a legal framework for this.
Ratu Epeli also said the ministry responsible was working on the issue.
Fiji Speaker, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau Photo: Supplied/ Infinity Images Fiji
