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Issue No: 596; 17 March 2001
Fiji is back to where it was before the Fiji Court of Appeal had delivered its landmark decision on the legality of the Qarase regime. While the Court declared the Qarase regime illegal and Qarase pledged to uphold the decision of the Court, Qarase has finally rejected the decision of the court. Today Qarase announced that he was maintaining his cabinet team until new elections in Fiji. Qarase was reappointed on Thursday to be the Prime Minister. This appointment came exactly two weeks after the landmark court decision declaring the Qarase regime illegal. While the Great Council of Chiefs had decided that the 1997 Constitution is still the supreme law of the land, either the Council failed to give the President the directive to work within the provisions of the Constitution, or it also said one thing and directed that another be done. In either case, the reputation and the credibility of the Great Council of Chiefs is at stake. If it decided to accept the 1997 Constitution as law, then it must immediately demand that the President work within the provisions of the Constitution. If, on the other hand, it endorses the actions of the President, then it itself will be rightfully blamed for encouraging illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful actions in the country. What is clear now is that the regime and those behind the breakdown in law and order in the country can not fool the international community any more. They have demonstrated that they have no intention of abiding by established law. As such they will be the ones to be blamed for any response which Fiji gets for the continuing reign of the illegal regime. It is clear that Fiji is now heading towards major economic
sanctions, possible expulsion of Fiji troops from peacekeeping operations
abroad, and a likely expulsion from the Commonwealth of Nations. |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
