Issue No: 1013; 13 August 2001

The call has come from the Fiji Trades Union Congress, the Fiji Council of Social Services, and the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre.

In another call, the Citizens Constitutional Forum has called for the prosecution of those involved with the terrorism of last year. A Pasifik Nius article written by prominent Pacific journalist David Robie, (http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/news/wansolnews/wansol1108011.html), states:

A Fijian constitutional advocate today called for justice over last year's attempted coup and criticised politicians for not doing enough to educate people about their rights.

Rev Akuila Yabaki, executive director of the Citizens' Constitutional Forum, told a two-day media election seminar that it was essential for fair and free elections for people to know their rights.

"And their rights are enshrined in the 1997 constitution," he said.

He challenged politicians to be more honest with voters about the constitution and to inform them about what their rights really were.

Rev Yabaki said that while 18 political parties were contesting the week-long general election beginning on August 25, few candidates had put any emphasis on educating the public.

"Yet many say they will change the constitution when they get into power," he told the seminar, organised by the Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association (PIBA) and the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) .

He questioned the understanding of the constitution by many politicians, saying that during the course of the forum's work it had been apparent that even MPs in the Parliament deposed in the attempted coup on May 19 last year did not understand the constitution.

The forum is appealing over a High Court judgement against it over a case challenging the President, claiming the ruling had set a dangerous precedent for future coup-makers.

Rev Yabaki said about constitutional change: "There is a proper way to do things - to change things, to make amendments. It is simple as that.

"That is also enshrined in the 1997 constitution."

Rev Yabaki also questioned why there had been no police standing order - as reported in today's Fiji Sun - for the protest march on the day of the coup which led to rioting and arson.