Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga has accused *The Fiji Times* of misreporting his statements regarding the death penalty during a recorded interview. In the interview, Mr. Turaga mentioned that there is advocacy for the death penalty among some individuals. He referenced a recent visit to Singapore where national consensus on the death penalty was discussed, highlighting the conflict between such a measure and democratic ideals like the right to life. He expressed that ultimately, this matter is for the government and community entities, such as church leaders and NGOs, to consider if they wish to pursue it, emphasizing the need to balance society.
However, Mr. Turaga has since clarified that his remarks were taken out of context, stressing that the Coalition Government does not have a policy or intention to reintroduce the death penalty. He stated that the correct term should be “maximum sentence” rather than “death penalty.” *The Fiji Times* maintains its report’s accuracy, asserting that the interview’s recordings support their article.
The timing of Mr. Turaga’s comments follows a controversial call for the death penalty by Lynda Tabuya, the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection. Her remarks were met with criticism, including from former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, who argued that her statements were made without Cabinet consultation, which he found inappropriate.
Overall, Mr. Turaga’s clarification aims to distance the Government from any notion of reintroducing the death penalty, reinforcing reliance on democracy and constitutional rights. The situation highlights the importance of accurately conveying sensitive issues to maintain public trust and uphold democratic principles.