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UN rights chief urges Fiji president to reinstate judiciary

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday urged Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilo to reinstate dismissed judges and lift media restrictions imposed after Iloilo suspended the country's constitution. Pillay said that the 5-year interim government declared by Iloilo and the reappointment of Commodore Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama were improper uses of emergency power, which "should only be used to deal with a dire threat to the security of the nation, not to undermine the fundamental checks and balances of good government." Pillay cautioned:he long term damage of undermining such fundamental institutions as the judiciary and the media cannot be underestimated ... I strongly urge a return to the rule of law, to the reinstatement of the judiciary and an end to media censorship.Earlier this week, members of Fiji's Law Society called for deposed judges to remain in office and resist the current military regime's attempts to oust them. Turmoil has built since the Court of Appeal of Fiji declared that the appointment of the military government following a 2006 coup d'etat which ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was unconstitutional. Concerns about the constitutional suspension have also been expressed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US State Department spokesperson Richard Aker, who said that it was a step backwards for the country, and called on Fiji to continue to recognize rights outlined in the suspended constitution.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 16, 2009 (boomark / email).