A prominent non-government organisation in Fiji, the Citizens' Constitutional Forum, says reported mass surveillance by New Zealand could affect the group's safety and security.
The Executive Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum Akuila Yabaki. Photo: RNZ
The comments by the CCF chair Akuila Yabaki come following last week's report that New Zealand is spying on its regional neighbours, including Fiji and passing the information on to the United States.
The Reverend Yabaki says it is a concern that the group's communications are being monitored on the international stage.
"The way the information is used could potentially have repercussions on CSOs like CCF as we are already working under a challenging political environment for the last number of years. At the end of the day it's about our security and safety at stake here."
The Reverend Yabaki says if the reports are true it is probably time for Fiji to get international protection for its citizens' privacy by ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
He says it is understandable such mass surveillance is happening, given the geopolitical landscape of the last few years and a lack of information about China's aid activities in the Pacific.
Listen to full interview with Akuila Yabaki on Dateline Pacific