Vanuatu chiefs say AFP overstepping authority

09/06/2008 21:05:30

Traditional chiefs in Vanuatu have accused Australian police working in the country of overstepping their authority and failing to show proper respect to community leaders.

The head of Vanuatu's Community Chiefs' Committee, Daniel Molisa, says the Australian Federal Police have no regard for Vanuatu's chiefs, the government or the community.

Chief Molisa says he is trying to organise a protest against the Australian Federal Police and hopes up to 6,000 people will join him in a march to the Australian High Commission in Port Vila in coming weeks.

He is unhappy with the recent raids undertaken jointly by the Vanuatu Police and the AFP as part of an investigation into an alleged $US96 million money-laundering scheme.

Vanuatu's foreign minister later said he had not been briefed before the raids occurred.

The Vanuatu prime minister, Ham Lini, recently admitted the AFP's presence in Vanuatu had upset many locals.

AFP Commander, Warren Gray, says chiefs had no need to feel disrespected by the organisation's work in Vanuatu, which helped both nations.

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