17 Apr 2009

ICJ urges Fiji regime to restore constitution and judiciary

4:21 pm on 17 April 2009

The International Commission of Jurists has condemned recent events in Fiji and has called for the immediate restoration of the constitution and the reinstatement of the judiciary.

An ICJ statement says under international law, a state of emergency may only be declared in response to a grave threat to the nation.

The ICJ says it is concerned that the state of emergency is being used to perpetuate an illegal regime.

It says by attacking the judiciary for fulfilling its role as guardian of the rule of law, the President of Fiji has erased the separation of powers and strengthened an unaccountable military regime.

The ICJ calls on the interim regime to respect last week's Fiji Court of Appeal to give way for an interim administration pending democratic elections.