17 Oct 2012

Young leaders group in Fiji wants 'unfair' consultations extended

5:13 pm on 17 October 2012

A group representing young leaders in Fiji has complained of poor civic education and rushed consultations on the new constitution.

The Constitution Commission finished receiving submissions this week after just over two months of consultations and has started analysing people's views before starting to write a draft document.

Roshika Deo of the Emerging Leaders' Forum Alumni says her group tried to present its written submission in person on the last day but the Commission told them time had run out.

She says the commissioners are ignorant of the reality in Fiji, whose young people have little idea of submission-making and have only just started to get mobilised.

"We are still in a military dictatorship. We haven't had the liberty to mobilise for maybe six years now. We haven't had the freedom to talk openly about issues that go in a constitution. Even saying the word constitutionin this country, people say it with a lot of apprehension and fear."

Roshika Deo says consultations should be extended.

The Chairman of the Constitution Commission, Professor Yash Ghai, says he is hurt at the criticism as he has done everything possible to encourage groups, especially women, to come forward with their views.