USP staff, student unions protest over Fiji police ‘attack’ on campus safety

Asia Pacific Report newsdesk

University of the South Pacific staff unions and students have protested in “disgust” over what they call interference and unsolicited presence by Fiji police on the Laucala campus.

“We demand that this must immediately stop, to allow staff to work and prepare for incoming students and the semester of learning ahead,” said a joint statement today from the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS), USP Staff Union (USPSU) and the USP Student Association (USPSA).

The unions described the police activity as an “attack on the right of staff to operate freely, with dignity and safety at the work place”.

The unions said that police officers had been seen on campus since the “unethical” deportation of the vice-chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia last Thursday.

USP security officials had also reported a number of incidents involving police vehicles that had been refused entry onto the campus.

“This is seen as an attempt to intimidate and harass staff while disrupting preparations for the semester ahead,” the statement said.