Fiji's Constitution Commission head Professor Yash Ghai says the country's impending civic education process will be a chance to find out if people in Fiji are holding back from giving their views on the constitution.
The Kenyan academic has been in Fiji to set up the Commission which is due to be up and running in a month.
Professor Ghai says he has been told by some they are not brave enough to speak out but he did not yet have enough knowledge of the contentious decrees involved.
He says there are sometimes good reasons for restrictions but people should be free to meet without too much bureaucracy.
"I hope that the authorities will have a review of the laws and to see if the restrictions go beyond what is strictly necessary for the reason for which they are instituted."
Professor Ghai says he's sure of the authorities' commitment to the process and he has experienced no obstacles in doing his job so far.
