USP Pacific Journalism Online: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/ USP Pasifik Nius: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/nius/index.html USP Pasifik Nius stories on Scoop (NZ): http://www.scoop.co.nz/international.htm Have your say:
http://www.TheGuestBook.com/vgbook/109497.gbook
GOVERNMENT TO SEEK STAY ORDER AGAINST JUDGE'S LANDMARK RULING
See PN earlier reports:
http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/news/nius3102shoot.html
SUVA (Pacnews): Fiji's interim government has rejected a High Court judge's ruling that it is an illegal administration
and that the country's 1997 constitution has not been abrogated, Pacnews reports.
The government's hardened stance was relayed to the Fiji Military Forces whose director of legal services, Lieutenant
Colonel Etueni Caucau told Pacnews that an application for a stay order against Judge Anthony Gates ruling would be
filed shortly.
He said the appeal against the ruling would be heard most probably at the next sitting of the Fiji Court of Appeal
scheduled for January-February next year. Colonel Caucau said the status quo would remain pending the appeal.
The senior military lawyer said the army was also on alert to prevent those who would want to take advantage of the
situation.
"We are calling on the people of Fiji to remain calm and to respect the rule of law," the Colonel told Pacnews this
afternoon.
In a landmark decision handed down today (November 15), Justice Gates said the 1997 Constitution -- which the military
said was abrogated when it declared martial law following the May 19 coup - was still intact and that the interim
government was wrongfully established.
Because of this, he said Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was still the legal President of Fiji and ordered him to urgently
convene a special sitting of Parliament. Judge Gates said the military's appointment of an interim government was
unlawful and unconstitutional.
Although the interim government has refused to accept the High Court's decision, among the first to welcome it was the
former administration of ousted Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
"It is now incumbent on the authorities of our nation - the interim administration, the commander of the Fiji Military
Forces, and the interim President to take the necessary action and accept the judgement," Chaudhry's co-deputy Prime
Minister, Dr Tupeni Baba told Pacnews.
"The whole world is now looking to see whether Fiji will uphold what is just and right. This ruling will test our sense
of what is right and what is wrong. It will test out ability to put into action what we have been telling the
international community we will do."
Dr Baba felt the time was opportune for the formation of a government of national unity - something the ousted
government had been advocating all along.
"It is the best way forward. This is the only way forward that will take us through these difficult times. This is the
time to work together for the sake of our country."
While reactions from Dr Baba and his team had been forthcoming, the standard line among senior members of the legal
fraternity in Fiji was that they needed time to read the complete judgement of Justice Gates.
"But from the sound of it, the crux of the ruling will be in its implementation," a lawyer in private practice in Suva
said.
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff has welcomed the decision saying the country's 1997 constitution remains
valid and that the properly elected Parliament be recalled.
"Justice Gates decision that the abrogation of the constitution after the May 19 coup was invalid allows Fiji the
opportunity to move forward."
"Fiji's instability and lack of legitimate government following the coup has caused huge damage to Fiji socially and
economically," Goff said.
"To many lives have been lost, Fiji's economy is set to retract by an estimated 15 percent and its international image
severely undermined.
"Justice Gates decision provides the opportunity now to make progress, if key players including the interim government
and the military are prepared to take it up.
"For security and stability to be restored, there must be the acceptance of sorting out difficulties by democratic
process, not the use of violence.
"Possibly the best way forward would be for both the indigenous community and indo Fijian and all political parties to
support the establishment of a Government of National Unity and reconciliation."
Goff said there needs to be goodwill and good faith on all sides. The alternative is a continuing threat of feuding
between different factions of the Indigenous political elite, which has already caused so much damage.
"The needs of both communities and the more than a third of the country's population which is living below the poverty
line, is to turn the country's focus on how to rebuild the economy and political institutions, rather than a power
struggle between elites motivated by greed and self - interest.
"The whole of the international community would welcome such an approach. Fiji's closest neighbours and friends, in
particular New Zealand and Australia, would be ready to assist in every way possible in that process," Goff said.
+++niuswire
This document is for educational and research use only. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright source
before reprinting. PASIFIK NIUS service is provided by the niusedita via the Journalism Program, University of the South
Pacific. Please acknowledge Pasifik Nius: niusedita@pactok.net.au http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/nius/index.html