22 Apr 2013

Fiji call for televised draft constitution debate

12:40 pm on 22 April 2013

A Fiji group, which includes politicians ousted in the 2006 coup, has challenged the regime leader and his closest associate to a series of nationally televised debates on a series of mutually agreed topics.

The United Front For A Democratic Fiji says it wants to discuss the merits of the two recently produced draft constitutions with Commodore Frank Bainimarama and the Attorney-General Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum.

The Front says it should also cover proposals for a transitional government ahead of next year's planned election, the role of the military and immunity provisions.

It says the local and regional media should be permitted to broadcast the debates and people should be allowed to vote at the end of each debate and the winner declared.

The Front says it is keen to engage in these debates so as to allow the people to hear both sides of the argument at the same time, and be able to make an informed decision.