Mov. for Democracy in Fiji: Rule of Law Desecrated

Press Release
April 13, 2009

Movement for Democracy in Fiji: Rule of Law Desecrated

The Movement for Democracy in Fiji (MDFiji) condemns this latest treason and rape of democracy through the purported abrogation of the 1997 Constitution including the road-map for Fiji to restore democratic and parliamentary elections announced by the President in his address to the country on April 10 2009, said Mr. Attar Singh, Chairperson.

The address was made less than twenty- four hours following the Court of Appeal ruling on April 9th 2009 declaring that the dismissal of Mr. Qarase and his Cabinet members and subsequent appointment of the military-backed interim government made under the orders of the President as unlawful and invalid under the 1997 Constitution.

Mr. Singh said “This strategy is at best tragic and a huge disappointment for Fiji because it simply ignores the rule of law and proposes a political solution which will not serve the best interests of the people.”

“An opportunity to respect the rule of law and compliance with the spirit of the Court of Appeal ruling has gone begging. By following the Court of Appeal ruling Fiji could have gone into elections under the provisions of the 1997 Constitution much earlier than September 2014 as announced by the President”, Mr. Singh said.

Mr. Singh added that, “Sadly the President has also chosen to ignore and take into account the positions of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Commonwealth, the European Union and the United Nations with this course of action which defies the spirit of the Court of Appeal ruling”

“This willful disregard for the rule of law by those at the helm of executive authority today will continue to be disruptive and sow further seeds of discontent and instability. It is also the recipe for further economic difficulties for Fiji and her people,” Mr. Singh said.

ENDS

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