23 Aug 2006

Fiji NGO backs call for coup commission of inquiry

6:34 pm on 23 August 2006

The Fiji Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy says it supports the police commissioner's call for a presidential commission of inquiry into the 2000 coup.

The police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, has been calling for an independent commission of inquiry, rather than having individual investigations.

Last month, one of the coup convicts, Josefa Nata, also called for a public inquiry about who was behind the coup.

Several files are still open in a bid to bring to justice those behind the uprising.

The Centre's Father Kevin Barr says certain questions need to be answered.

"There is a certain cloud of secrecy in some areas and it is very hard for the country to move forward with all the details coming to light and while most people want the country move forward, i don't think you can just say 'forget the past and let's move forward'. There are too many unanswered questions, [such as] who are some of the prime people involved and where did the finance come from. I think they need to be answered."

Father Kevin Barr.