No affairs for Fiji civil servants

Fiji's civil servants have been warned that if they have sexual affairs outside of marriage they'll get the sack.

Military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama told a village audience that the Fiji Military Forces were leading the way by firing 10 instructors for having sex with female cadet officers.

"This should be a warning to everyone employed as a civil servant. We will not tolerate such behaviour from those employed by government," he said.

"If any civil servant is found engaged in such activities, they will be dealt with accordingly."

The Fiji Sun yesterday quoted Chief of State Brigadier-General Mohammed Aziz who said the men were fired because they want wanted the military to lead the nation by example.

Aziz said the instructors and officer cadets who had been involved with them were no longer a part of the security forces.

He said the military would ensure instructors and all military personnel did not take advantage of officer cadets, he told the newspaper, which is censored by the military.

"We will make sure that we maintain discipline in the force," he said.

He said the cadets would continue their training under new instructors.

Bainimarama's strict rule is in marked contrast to that of an earlier coup leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, who famously justified several of his high profile affairs by publicly describing himself as a "carnal man".