11 Jan 2012

NZ foreign minister says Fiji watched over new decree

3:42 pm on 11 January 2012

The New Zealand foreign minister, Murray McCully, says the jury is out on what the new Fiji public order decree will mean and how the regime in Suva intends to use it.

The new decree gives the interim regime extended powers and allows for security operations whose outcome cannot be challenged in court.

It was made public just days after the regime announced the lifting of the public emergency regulations, which was widely welcomed.

Mr McCully says the international community has been watching for positive signs.

"Disappointed to see that this new decree came into effect very late in the piece but the jury is out at the moment s to how quite it is going to be enforced."

Murray McCully says he hopes that despite the decree, regime critics will be allowed to take part in the process of drawing up a new constitution.