Young People's Concerned Network FIJI

The President of the Fiji Law Society says the country’s Attorney General is twisting the truth by suggesting the country’s lawyers are not properly scrutinised.

The law society’s president, Dorsami Naidu, says the Attorney general is wrong to suggest complaints are not investigated fairly.

“I think he is trying to twist it around. If there is a complaint against any of us I dont, or the law Society, does not look at it. We have senior members of the Bar going to the initial stages of the complaint. I don’t, or the Law Society does not look at it. We have senior members of the Bar going through the initial stages of the complaint. We don’t, you know, people personally involved don’t look at it.”

Dorsami Naidu says the stripping of the law society’s powers is because it has not followed the orders of Fiji’s military regime.

Asia law body says Fiji regime will struggle to convince that legal fraternity still independent

A spokesperson for the regional law association, LAWASIA says the interim government in Fiji will find it difficult to convince people that it won’t interfere with the licensing of lawyers.

Dr Gordon Hughes, a past president of LAWASIA who visited Fiji on an observer mission two years ago, says this is not radical as government-appointed bodies are responsible for this in some other countries including Australia.But he says past interference with the legal system in Fiji leads people to doubt whether the new issuing body, the Chief Registrar will be completely independent.

“Now that concern may or may not be well founded but its understandable that some people will form the view that the government will simply direct the relevant authority to remove the practicing certificate of someone who for political reasons they don’t approve of.”

Press Release: New Zealand Law Society

“The Fiji regime’s decision to take over issuing practising certificate for lawyers in Fiji is very disturbing,” the President of the New Zealand Law Society, John Marshall QC, said today (25 May).

John Marshall said the move was a very serious attack on the independence of the legal profession in Fiji and is of considerable concern.

“An independent legal profession is a vital element of the rule of law. The legal profession represents individuals in claims against the State and defends them in criminal cases brought by the State. Lawyers must be independent of State interference to be able to represent clients freely and fearlessly.

“In New Zealand, the Law Society issues practising certificates to lawyers. The Fiji Law Society has done the same for the last 12 years. We are very concerned to learn that the Fiji Government, through the Chief Registrar, will now decide who should hold a practising certificate.

 “The New Zealand Law Society is also very concerned about the process by which these and other wide ranging changes to the regulation of Fiji’s legal profession have been made. There was no consultation, simply the issuing of the decree. Then, at the weekend representatives of the regime arrived at the Fiji Law Society offices to remove files relating to complaints, which, under the decree, will now also be handled by the Registrar,” John Marshall said.

IT'S OFFICIAL - Illegal Decree out-lawing the Fiji Law Society. Listen here

Pacific Freedom Forum wants better monitoring of Fiji media curbs. 12 May, 2009 

The co-chair of the online Pacific journalists’ network, the Pacific Freedom Forum, or PFF, says they are not trying to supplant the Pacific Island News Association or PINA.

Monica Miller attended a PFF workshop in Samoa last week discussing issues facing journalists in the region and how best to overcome them.

She says more awareness and better monitoring of curbs on media freedom need to be made and discussions must be held on whether the PINA secretariat should move from Fiji, given the censorship there.

Monica Miller says the PFF is keen to assist PINA’s secretariat in any way possible.

“We do believe that we should be talking with PINA. There’s no attempt by the Pacific Freedom Forum to overtake PINA or replace it. We hope that at least PINA will recognise us as a body and if there’s any functions that PINA cannot do now, especially media monitoring, that PINA can elect to have the PFF to be that group that monitors media freedom and issues alerts.”

PINA is due to hold its bi-annual meeting in Vanuatu in July and any decision on whether to relocate out of Fiji is likely then.

Fiji journalists released after detention - By correspondent Kerri Ritchie. May 11, 2009 

It is believed two Fijian journalists have been released from jail after they were arrested at the weekend because the country's military rulers objected to their reports.

The two work for online news website FijiLive.

They were taken into custody for publishing a story about the interim government's decision to release nine soldiers and three policeman who had served less than two years in jail for the manslaughter of a local teenager.

A source in Fiji, who cannot be named because of safety concerns, say the reporters were told by the military regime they must be "more positive" in their reports.

Fiji's interim government has extended for another month laws allowing government officials to censor the media.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25465502-16953,00.html

Fiji reporters released with a warning to 'stay more positive' in media coverage. UPDATED | May 11, 2009

Two Fiji journalists detained by police for writing negative stories have been released with a warning to "stay more positive" in their media coverage.

The reporters from the online news website FijiLive were to be released on Monday afternoon after spending one and two nights respectively behind bars.

The pair had been detained for publishing a story about the country's military regime releasing nine soldiers and three policemen from jail after serving less than two years for the manslaughter of a teenager.

"FijiLive has been told that they've been released but they're still waiting for them to show up at the office,'' said a Fiji journalist who declined to be named for fear she could be sanctioned.

"They haven't been charged but they've been told they breached emergency regulations and warned not to do it again. They have to stay more positive.''

The journalist, who has spoken to the pair, said they were tired and stressed by their ordeal.

Fiji's media has been operating under strict media censorship since last month when the constitution was abrogated and the regime, in power since a 2006 coup, gained tighter control.

Laws that require that government officials vet all coverage were extended for another month last week, sparking more international condemnation for the gagging of public expression.

FijiLive journalists Shelvin Chand and Dionisia Turagabeci have been detained since Saturday and Sunday respectively after writing a story on Friday critical of the regime.

It covered the release of a dozen police and soldiers convicted of torturing Sakiusa Rabaka to death a month after the coup.

Australia's former foreign minister Alexander Downer took up the case at the time and referred it to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.

The men had been sentenced to serve between eight years and life for manslaughter.

Meanwhile, the regime celebrated the success of the new censorship laws, with military spokesman Neumi Leweni last week saying Fijians were benefiting from more positive news.

"The people of Fiji are now experiencing a remarkable change from what used to be highly negative and sensationalised news to a more positive, balanced and responsible reporting by the media,'' Leweni said.

Fears in Fiji that regime about to take responsibilities from Law Society. 11 May, 2009 UTC

There are fears in Fiji that the interim government could be about to take over the licensing of lawyers from the Fiji Law Society.

Last week the Law Society’s president, Dorsami Naidu, said he believed the interim regime was about to take action against the Society because criticism from its lawyers was a huge irritant.

The interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has so far declined to comment on the claims.

But Fiji lawyer, Graham Leung, says there are now rumours that responsibility for licensing lawyers could be taken from the Law Society.

He says this could politicise the licensing system.

“The next step further down the track could be that persons deemed to be critics and detractors of the regime might be excluded from holding practising certificates. It’s obviously with a view to silencing dissent”

Graham Leung says the move would further undermine the independence of the legal system in Fiji.

PIF SUSPENSION

 Forum chair says Fiji not lost cause - Tue May 5, 2009 3:38pm AEST

The chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Toke Talagi, says it will take some time before Fiji feels the full impact of its suspension from the regional body. Mr Talagi says the military regime will only begin to suffer the consequences when it is not invited to important events scheduled over the next 12 months. However, Mr Talagi does not believe that Fiji is a lost cause.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts. Speaker: Toke Talagi, Premier of Niue and chair of the Pacific Islands Forum

Listen: Windows Media

TALAGI: No, of course not. In my letter to the leaders, I've said to them and they have all responded positively about the fact that we need to continue with a Ministerial Contact Group and in that suggestion I also suggested to them that we expanded to include all foreign affairs ministers for forum island countries and they also all responded positively to that.

So we are expecting the Ministerial Contact Group to meet as quickly as possible, so that they can go through. What in fact it means in Fiji, this is the first time we have ever done something like this to any country or to any regime if you wish and therefore we have got to tread carefully and make sure that we do it properly.

COUTTS: Meaning that you have got to find out what the fine details are of what exactly a suspension means, including whether the Forum Secretariat stays in Suva?

TALAGI: That's right. We have looked at the broad principles of what we want to do and the Forum Secretariat is working on those. We need to work through the finer details of this and also to make sure that we get it right before we start making any further announcements.

COUTTS: Now the Ministerial Contact Group will include all the Forum members. Will Fiji be represented there and have they shown any inclination or desire to be included?

TALAGI: No, I don't think Fiji will be included, however, the Ministerial Contact Group can meet with the Fiji regime if you wish at a meeting to be determined by them and the reasons why the contact group is meets is to go and meet with the Fijian Government.

COUTTS: And has Fiji shown any desire? I know prior to the suspension, Commodore Frank Bainimarama was reported to have said he wants to keep the dialogue open, particularly with the Commonwealth and the UN. Is that still the situation post-suspension?

TALAGI: Well, as far as I am concerned, yes. I was very, very happy indeed to ensure that we maintain our contact with Fiji. We can't not continue the dialogue. We must do that and this is part of the reasons why it has been suggested that the Ministerial Contact Group be expanded, that they meet with Fiji as soon as possible.

COUTTS: And so the perimeters are still the same, elections as early as possible before the suspension will be lifted?

TALAGI: Well, the perimeters are still the same, except that on this occasion they will be talking about the finer points of suspension and so on.

COUTTS: And are additional sanctions being talked about?

TALAGI: The suspensions are in fact sanctions in all but name.

COUTTS: What about getting someone that can negotiate with Fiji? We've seen the Commonwealth and the UN struggle to find someone that the regime finds acceptable. We now see in the media today that Owen Glenn, a New Zealand billionaire offering his services as a negotiator. He lives on one of the small islands off Fiji. Is someone like that a possibility?

TALAGI: I would be happy to talk to anybody who might be interested in doing this, but you know it's a question of credibility and it's also a question of us making sure that all the countries are comfortable with it. So if anybody wishes to make contact, we certainly would consider that. Let me say that I have read somewhere that the non-government organisations are concerned. We will continue to engage and involve them in forum matters, in forum meetings and so on.

COUTTS: From the Fiji side of it, from reading what's going on, and because the suspension has been talked about for a long time now, months in fact, it seems to be business as usual and that they are trying to claim that it doesn't have any real impact on them at that end in Fiji at all?

TALAGI: Well, it's unlikely to have any real impact immediately. These things take time and these things will occur as the occasions arise. I'm surprised in fact that they should ever think that suddenly something is going to happen quickly. They don't happen like that and this is part of part perhaps of the naivety that these people have, with respect to these type of diplomatic issues and matters.

COUTTS: And so will the Forum Secretariat or the forum body, yourself being the chair make any approach to Commodore Bainimarama or the leadership group in Fiji to try and get them to come to the negotiating table?

TALAGI: That's what we're trying to do at the present moment, but those meetings will be between the interim regime and the Ministerial Contact Group.

Fiji left out of free trade talks Tue, 05 May 2009 16:18:00 +1000

Fiji's interim attorney general says he had no idea the country was being left out of free trade discussions planned for this weekend.

Talks to set up a free trade area, known as the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations or PACER are scheduled to take place in Auckland. The New Zealand Trade Minister, Tim Groser, confirmed Fiji would not be at the meeting.

But Fiji's Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says he hadn't heard about Fiji's exclusion from the talks until contacted by Radio Australia, adding that he couldn't comment until notified formally.

Samoa backs New Zealand's Fiji stance

Samoa's Prime Minister is accusing Fiji of trying to use divide and rule tactics among Pacific Forum nations.

 Fiji Politicians Unsurprised, Want Tougher Sanctions

By Sarah E. Treptow - Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji - The director of Fiji's SDL party, Peceli Kinivuwai, is urging Pacific leaders to be tough on Fiji after the country was suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum, a move he says is not surprise given the failure to restore democracy.  He says Forum leaders should have trade sanctions against Fiji and continue to take a strong stance against Fiji's interim regime.  He added that the interim regime has only itself to blame for the suspension, not Australia and New Zealand.

Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, said that the Pacific Islands Forum's decision is regrettable but that it had no other option because the Forum had warned Fiji of the consequences.  He said that he hopes the Forum will begin dialogue with Fiji as soon as possible, "Of course the initiative on this will have to be taken by the Government here.  The Forum has indicated very clearly in its statement that it's ready and willing to assist provided it sees any positive moves on the part of the authorities here to restore parliamentary democracy."

The general secretary of the National Federation Party, Pramod Rae, says the Forum had to send the interim government a symbolic message that it would not tolerate the deviant behavior.  Mr. Rae said economic sanctions may be imposed along with the suspension, "You can't have a halfway house in this.

You can't say we will do this but we won't do something else because it might hurt the people.  The people in the country are already hurting, they are hurting by a brutal and illegitimate regime that is governing us without any moral authority to do so.  The people of this country will not mind a little bit more hurt if it helps them get rid of this mob."

Meanwhile, Fiji's acting Prime Minister and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has said being suspended from the Forum will push Fiji to look elsewhere for alternative financial and technical assistance.  He said that elections would not be held as dictated by the political agendas of Australia and New Zealand.  He added, "The untenable proposition that elections should be held at any cost immediately, even under a flawed system is not only patronizing but demonstrates a lack of commitment to true democracy and sustainable parliamentary representation."

Radio New Zealand International - Fiji politician urges tougher action on regime by regional countries

Radio New Zealand International - Fiji politician says Forum had no option but to suspend Fiji 

Radio New Zealand International - 

Fiji's SDL party says interim govt has 

only itself to blame for 

suspension 

Human Rights Watch urges Fiji to restore constitution Tue May 5, 2009 

NEW YORK, May 5 (Reuters) - A New York-based human rights group urged Fiji's interim government on Tuesday to reinstate the constitution and restore judges unlawfully removed from office.

Human Rights Watch also called for an immediate end to "the harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists, writers, lawyers, human rights defenders, and political opponents" in Fiji.

Fiji was plunged into fresh crisis last month after the president reappointed Commodore Frank Bainimarama as interim prime minister, two days after a court ruled the military leader's 2006 coup and subsequent government was illegal.

Last week the Pacific Islands Forum suspended Fiji from the 16-nation grouping, after its military leader failed to meet a deadline to announce elections and extended emergency laws.

Human Rights Watch said it had sent a letter to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo calling for the restoration of constitutional law.

"President Iloilo and Commodore Bainimarama have run roughshod over basic freedoms of speech, association, and assembly," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

"After over two years of military rule, Fiji Islanders now face even more restrictions, instead of progress toward restoring democratic rule," he said. 

 ADB warns Pacific of sharp downturn Tue May 5, 2009 

The Asian Development Bank has told Pacific Islands finance ministers that the impact of the global financial crisis on the region is worse than expected, and country-specific action plans are now needed. The finance ministers were in Bali over the weekend for the bank's Board of Governors meeting.

At a special Pacific-only consultation on Saturday, the bank's Pacific Director-General, Hafeez Rahman, launched a new report containing the Bank's assessment of the impact of the financial crisis on the Pacific. The report is called Taking the Helm.

Presenter: Jemima Garrett-Speaker: Craig Sugden, Chief Pacific Economist with the Asian Development

 Human Rights Watch: Letter to President Iloilo - May 5, 2009

President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands

H.E. Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, KStJ, MSD, JP

Fiji Islands

Dear President Ratu Iloilo,

In February 2007, Human Rights Watch wrote to you detailing a number of grave human rights violations in Fiji stemming from the December 2006 military coup, including one death in military custody, arbitrary detentions of at least two dozen people, and the provision of immunity for military personnel involved in the coup. To date we have yet to receive a response.

We write again now to communicate urgent concerns regarding the recent developments in Fiji following the Court of Appeal decision in Qarase v. Bainimarama on April 9, 2009, and your subsequent announcement, with the backing of the army, "I hereby confirm I have abrogated the 1997 constitution and appointed myself as head of state in the new order." Over the past three weeks, the Fiji government has engaged in serious violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, among others, and abolished any pretence of an independent judiciary. These actions, in which the President has given himself near absolute powers, have made Fiji a dictatorship.

On April 9, 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal declared the coup of December 5, 2006, unlawful and noted that it would be advisable for the President to appoint a distinguished person independent of the parties to the litigation as caretaker Prime Minister. That caretaker Prime Minister was to advise the dissolution of the Parliament and direct the issuance of writs for an election. The following day, you abrogated the Constitution, appointed yourself head of state, revoked the appointment of all judicial officers, and reappointed military commander Commodore Bainimarama as interim Prime Minister. 

Despite your promise, in your Address to the Nation at this time, that basic rights would be protected under the new legal order, the interim government and security forces have committed serious human rights violations.

Rule of law and the independence of the judiciary

Recent presidential actions have failed to uphold the rule of law and encroached on the independence of the judiciary. On April 10, 2009, you removed all judicial officers from office. On April 16, you issued the Administration of Justice Decree, which removes the President of the Law Society from the Judicial Services Commission and terminates all pending cases that challenge the actions of the interim administration since the coup. 

On April 20, you appointed, under this Decree, Ajmal Gulab Khan as Chief Magistrate and Faizal Koya as magistrate, together with seven others who were sitting magistrates prior to the abrogation. Ana Rokomokoti, the former military lawyer who was appointed a magistrate by the interim administration in May 2007, was appointed Chief Registrar on April 15 by the Public Service Commission, reconstituted under the State Services Decree 2009. Five magistrates, Amani Rokotinaviti, Josaia Waqavolavola, Vani Ravono, Laisa Laveti, and former Chief Magistrate Naomi Matanitobua, were not reappointed. All other judicial offices remain vacant. 

Since their removal, judges have been closely monitored by police and military officers and have been refused access to the court buildings.

Lawyers are also being targeted. On April 14, police arbitrarily detained Dorsami Naidu, the President of the Fiji Law Society, after Naidu attempted to enter the Lautoka High Court Building with fellow lawyers and High Court Judge Gwen Phillips to deal with cases as usual. Naidu was released the next day, though has since received a late night telephone call from someone identifying himself as a military officer, asking him to come to the barracks. Naidu refused. 

In addition, the Law Society has not been given written permission to meet, over two weeks after it applied for such a permit.

Through the Fiji Constitution Amendment Act 1997 Revocation Decree 2009, you revoked all constitutional offices, including the Office of the Solicitor-General and of the Director of Public Prosecutions. You reappointed Christopher Pryde, an interim government appointee who represented Commodore Bainimarama in the Qarase v. Bainimarama proceedings, on April 21 after consulting with the Interim Attorney General, pursuant to the State Services Decree 2009. A new Director of Public Prosecutions is yet to be appointed.

Taken together, these steps severely undermine access to justice and the independence of the judiciary. In order to restore the rule of law, Human Rights Watch urges you to:

Return immediately to constitutional rule, annul decrees made since April 10, 2009, in particular the Fiji Constitution Amendment Act 1997 Revocation Decree 2009, Revocation of Judicial Appointments Decree 2009, the Administration of Justice Decree 2009, and the State Services Decree 2009, and recognize the legal system as it stood prior to April 10, 2009.

Publicly commit to upholding the fundamental principles of independence of the judiciary, the prosecutorial service and lawyers, and desist from further undermining these principles.

Abide by the Qarase v. Bainimarama decision; any discontent with the decision should be addressed through the ordinary course of appeal.

Respond immediately and positively to the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers' request of January 18, 2007, and reiterated on June 26, 2008, for a country visit to Fiji. On November 9, 2008, the Permanent Mission of Fiji articulated strong support for this request before the UN General Assembly.

Issue an open invitation to all Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and other international observers.

Freedom of expression

The right to freedom of expression has been violated since April 10, 2009. The government has censored media outlets and intimidated human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and political opponents.

The Public Emergency Regulations 2009 empower the Permanent Secretary for Information to prohibit the broadcast or publication of any material the secretary believes may result in a breach of the peace, or promote disaffection or public alarm or undermine the government.

Immediately following the abrogation of the Constitution on April 10, Ministry of Information officers were placed in newsrooms to monitor what is being published.  On April 12, the most widely distributed national daily newspaper, the Fiji Times, contained blank spaces, with the notice, "the stories on this page could not the published due to Government restrictions"; Fiji TV cancelled its 6 p.m. news broadcast, displaying instead this message, "Viewers please be advised that there will be no 6 p.m. News tonight"; other domestic news sources omitted stories on the political situation.

The Ministry of Information and police have summoned editors, publishers, and journalists to explain or justify stories. On April 13, the police took Fiji TV reporter Edwin Nand into custody for allegedly breaching the Public Emergency Regulations 2009 by interviewing Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) journalist Sean Dorney prior to his deportation. Nand was detained at the Central Police Station for two nights before being released without charge. 

On April 16, the police arrested PACNEWS journalist Pita Ligaiula for allegedly breaching the regulations. Ligaiula was released the following day without charge. The same day, five regional and international media correspondents based in Fiji were summoned to appear before the Ministry of Information, where they were told to comply with the regulations. At around 7 p.m. on April 16, police raided the Islands Business office. Police specifically stated that their purpose was to prevent the release of a story on the detained journalist Pita Ligailua.

Three international journalists, New Zealand's 3 News reporter Sia Aston and cameraman Matt Smith, together with ABC Pacific Correspondent Sean Dorney, were forced to leave the country on April 14. On April 13, all three had been summoned to the Ministry of Information, where officers told Aston and Dorney that they were not happy with their reporting. Aston and Smith were ordered to erase all material from their tapes prior to their departure. The three were then detained for five hours before being handed over to Immigration officers who accompanied them to Nadi, where they spent the night. The next morning, they were served with deportation papers and put on flights to New Zealand and Australia. Some international journalists have since been allowed to enter Fiji and report, but are only permitted to do so at the interim government's invitation and their reports continue to be censored.

On April 15, two Radio Australia FM transmitters were shut down by local technicians who were acting on the orders of officers from Fiji's Ministry of Information and soldiers. On April 20, Pacific Women's Information Network (Pacwin), a regional listserv, issued the following message: "Until further notice this list will be moderated. We kindly request all members to refrain from posting commentary on the current situation in Fiji. All such posts will be withheld by our moderators."

Human Rights Watch urges you to:

Immediately cease the harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists, writers, lawyers, human rights defenders, and political opponents.

End government interference of the domestic and foreign media.

Discipline or prosecute as appropriate any officials found to be carrying out any activities restricting the right to freedom of expression.

State of Emergency

The Public Emergency Regulations 2009, decreed on April 10, purports to empower security forces to prohibit processions and meetings, to use such force as considered necessary, including use of arms, to enter and remain in any building where there is reason to believe three or more people are meeting, and to regulate the use of any public place of three or more persons. It further provides for the detention of suspects for up to seven days without charge. Regulation 3(3) provides:

[n]o police officer nor any member of the Armed Forces nor any person acting in aid of such police officer or member using such force shall be liable in criminal or civil proceedings for having by the use of such force caused harm or death to any person.

The wide-ranging powers and immunity provided in these regulations contribute to impunity for members of the security forces. In addition, the regulations violate the rights of liberty and freedom from arbitrary detention, free speech, and freedom of peaceful assembly. The arbitrary enforcement of restrictions on gatherings and meetings, provided for in the regulations compromises the work of nongovernmental organizations, religious groups, and other civil society organizations.

The Public Emergency Regulations 2009 are incompatible with international human rights standards, and we urge that you revoke them immediately.

Democracy

The people of Fiji have a right to take part in self-government through free and fair elections.

You stated, in your Address to the Nation given on April 10, 2009, that you believe "that a period of five years is necessary for an interim government to put into place the necessary reforms and processes." As such, you advised that you would "direct the soon to be appointed Interim Government to hold true democratic and parliamentary elections by September 2014 at the latest." 

Commodore Bainimarama echoed your comments in his own Address to the Nation the following day, noting that the Interim Cabinet would "ensure that elections are held at the latest by September 2014."

Human Rights Watch urges you to take immediate steps toward holding elections by immediately appointing an independent civilian caretaker Prime Minister to promptly direct the issuance of writs of election. Any aims for electoral reform should be pursued through the democratic process entrenched in the Constitution.

Human Rights Watch reminds you that even under a state of emergency, the government of Fiji must protect and uphold fundamental human rights of all people in Fiji. Human Rights Watch urges you to commit to the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law, and democratic governance by taking the substantive steps recommended in this letter. This includes returning to constitutional rule, respecting the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, restoring judicial independence, and holding elections as soon as possible. 

Should you fail to do so, the future of human rights in Fiji will remain in jeopardy.

We welcome any opportunity to discuss these matters with you further.

Yours sincerely,

Brad Adams, Executive Director

Asia division

CC:

Commander RFMF