Hopes for change as Fiji to lift emergency
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FIJI'S military government will move on Saturday to lift a state of emergency it imposed in 2009, as the country prepares to open consultation on a new constitution, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said in a New Year's message.
The Public Emergency Regulations gave police and the military extended powers, imposed tough censorship on the domestic media and tightly controlled public assembly.
The military government of 2006 coup leader Commodore Bainimarama overturned the country's Constitution in 2009, imposing emergency rule after the nation's Court of Appeal ruled the military government was illegal.
In his statement late Sunday, Bainimarama stressed that public order would be maintained and that he would soon announce nationwide consultation for a new constitution, beginning next month, to establish a democratically elected government.
While he gave no details of what will replace martial law, his government has already created a media council with powers that ensure the state will continue to control over what is published.
"The (new) constitution must establish a government that is founded on an electoral system that guarantees equal suffrage, a truly democratic system based on the principal of one person, one vote, one value," he said.
"We will not have a system that will classify Fijians based on ethnicity," he said, adding that votes would be extended to 18-year-olds.
Bainimarama has broken earlier pledges to return to elections, but for the past two years has consistently claimed polls will be held in 2014. He said Fiji had been mismanaged and hindered by greed and selfishness.
The Public Emergency Regulations gave police and the military extended powers, imposed tough censorship on the domestic media and tightly controlled public assembly.
The military government of 2006 coup leader Commodore Bainimarama overturned the country's Constitution in 2009, imposing emergency rule after the nation's Court of Appeal ruled the military government was illegal.
In his statement late Sunday, Bainimarama stressed that public order would be maintained and that he would soon announce nationwide consultation for a new constitution, beginning next month, to establish a democratically elected government.
While he gave no details of what will replace martial law, his government has already created a media council with powers that ensure the state will continue to control over what is published.
"The (new) constitution must establish a government that is founded on an electoral system that guarantees equal suffrage, a truly democratic system based on the principal of one person, one vote, one value," he said.
"We will not have a system that will classify Fijians based on ethnicity," he said, adding that votes would be extended to 18-year-olds.
Bainimarama has broken earlier pledges to return to elections, but for the past two years has consistently claimed polls will be held in 2014. He said Fiji had been mismanaged and hindered by greed and selfishness.
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