FIJI SOLDIERS UNABLE TO CAST THEIR VOTES DUE TO MISUNDERSTANDING

(May 11th, 2006 No. 77)

One hundred and thirty four (134) Fiji soldiers were not able to cast their votes due to a misunderstanding with the United Nations Office in Iraq.

And according to the Supervisor of Elections, Semesa Karavaki the officials had to return because the UN would not allow them into their premises to conduct polling for the soldiers.

"Our election officials were in Iraq and were working through the UN Office so that our soldiers there could cast their vote,” he said.

"However there was some misunderstanding and the election officials were told by the UN to go with a private security company where some of our security guards are working, which they did because they were obliged to follow directions.

"When they returned, they were questioned by the UN Office as to why they went.”

Mr Karavaki said the election officials turned up twice at the UN Office but were not allowed in and they were told that they would not be able to hold any polling for the Fiji soldiers.

“So they had no choice but to return to Fiji through Jordan to Kuwait and back home,” he said.

More than 300 security guards in Iraq and Kuwait have cast their votes except for the Fijian soldiers.

-End-