Issue No:
619; 22 March 2001
The Qarase regime's lawyer has called for the reconvening of the Parliament
of Fiji.
Nicholas Blake of the Matrix Chambers, whom the regime had hired to fight its
appeal against the decision of Justice Anthony Gates validating the 1997
Constitution, says that it would be a credit to the regime if the Parliament was
reconvened.
In an article he wrote on 1 March on the Matrix Chamber's website, Blake
stated that the "litigation has ended with excellent prospects of a return
to legitimate democracy, a recall of Parliament and fresh elections with the
support of the military, and the ethnic Fijian political parties. If this
transpires it would be a remarkable result."
The statement makes it clear that Blake was expecting a reconvening of the
Parliament if their side lost the case. He also was under the impression that
the regime will allow the reconvening of the Parliament when it gave him its
assurance of abiding by the court decision.
Blake further stated that the "extra-constitutional abrogation of a
constitution" by the regime now "has been reversed by
litigation".
While taking the credit for the process of litigation, Blake acknowledged that
the prospects of the regime winning the case were bleak. He wrote: "Most
importantly, faced with the prospect of their arguments not succeeding, the
interim Prime Minister authorised me as the State's barrister to inform the
Court that its judgment would be accepted and that if the appeal was dismissed
it would use its best endeavours to return Fiji to constitutional legality once
more."
Defending against massive international criticism of his involvement with a
repressive regime, Blake stated that it was a right of the regime to engage
lawyers. He also stated that it was a credit to the Qarase regime to submit
"to be bound by the rules of civilised discourse". He denied that he
was paid a 6-figure sum.
The regime has now revealed that the bill submitted by the three overseas
lawyers is about $230,000.
Blake was criticised internationally for arguing in the Court that might is
right.
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