Fiji's non-government organisations say they will fight any government attempt to deregister them or prevent them having a voice.
The comments come after the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, said NGOs should de-register themselves because they had adopted an anti-government stance and were taking on the role of political parties.
Irshad Ali, the director of Save the Children Fiji, says NGOs play a critical role in the country's development.
He says NGOs and church groups run many of Fiji's schools, they're active in the implementation of health and also help out in policy formulation.
Mr Ali says NGOs are not anti-government but are willing to speak out when necessary.
"NGOs point out gaps in services, rightfully so. If these are not pointed out, then it's the people who would suffer. I don't think NGOs have a political agenda. They're quite neutral and they have a mandate to work in different areas, and that should be respected."
Irshad Ali says he thinks that NGOs will consult collectively and then talk to the government about what its concerns are.
The Attorney-general was unavailable for comment today on the prime minister's suggestion that the law covering NGOs would be amended.
