16 Aug 2007

Fiji election probe not restricted to minorities

8:56 am on 16 August 2007

The Fiji Human rights commission has clarified that its inquiry into the 2006 general election is not restricted to the minority communities.

The commission's director, Dr Shaista Shameem, has told Fiji TV the public inquiry is open to the entire voting population.

She says an earlier report on the inquiry was inaccurate and incorrect.

Dr Shameem says the public notice for the inquiry which appeared in this week's Hindi language weekly was only the first of many.

She says it will appear in the Fijian weekly tomorrow and in English dailies next week in a staggered series to achieve maximum impact.

Dr Shameem says the inquiry will be conducted by three people headed by veteran lawyer G P Lala.

The other members of the team will be a former minister in the Rabuka government and SVT party president, Taufa Vakatale, and a Dr David Wilson.

Meanwhile, the interim prime minister has announced that the post coup general election has been set for March 9th 2009.

But Commodore Bainimarama says this is contingent on how Fiji can best achieve an independent, free, fair and transparent election by that time.