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Fiji's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo - Source: Reuters -
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The head of the Pacific Islands Forum has strongly condemned the developments in Fiji since last week's Court of Appeal ruling that the interim government was illegal.
In response to the ruling, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo sacked the judges, dissolved the constitution, ruled out any election for five years and briefly removed Commodore Frank Bainimarama before re-appointing him to the top job.
The Forum's secretary general Tuiloma Neroni Slade said on Monday he is concerned and disappointed with the actions of the military-led government.
"By clarifying the legal and constitution situation, the Court of Appeal had afforded Fiji the way forward by reasserting the rule of law and affirming the spirit of democracy," Slade said.
"The Constitution is a document of the people, working for the people of Fiji. As such, it is the expression of their collective will and exists for their benefit and protection.
"I found its abrogation to be disturbing given its implications for human rights and the democratic aspirations of all the people of Fiji."
He said the restrictions to media access and freedom of speech, as well as the disregard for judicial independence are especially worrying.
Rights and freedoms safeguarded under constitutions underpinned principles of democracy, justice, transparency and accountability, he added.
"These principles remain fundamental Forum values which have served to unite Forum countries as regional neighbours and assist us through times of crisis.
"I am deeply disappointed that with the Constitution abrogated, there is now no assurance of commitment to an early return, through elections, to democratic constitutional governance for Fiji, as Forum Leaders have long been urging on the Interim Administration."
Slade will be consulting closely with the Forum Chair, and through him, other Forum Leaders, on what response the Forum will have to recent developments in Fiji.
The Forum's member states are: New Zealand, Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Since 2006, associate members territories are New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
