|
|
Issue No: 658; 5 April 2001
A member of Laisenia Qarase's Constitution Review Commission has resigned. Citing the court decision upholding the Constitution, Fred Achari resigned yesterday. He was one of the 4 Indians Fijians who accepted the offer from the regime to serve on the Commission. All prominent ethnic Indians approached by the regime refused to participate in it. The other three ethnic Indians are Joe Singh, Ben Bhagwan, and Joseph Maharaj. Achari stated: "Since the Fiji Court of Appeal has upheld and confirmed that the 1997 Constitution was never abrogated and it remains the supreme law of the country, I feel there is no need for me to be in the Commission. As the present review process has no legal basis, I would be acting in contempt of court if I continue to serve in the review process". Last night, Achari told Fiji TV that some members of the Commission were making racist remarks. His apparent reference was to the Chairman, the local University's Professor Asesela Ravuvu who stated that there must be ethnic Fijian dominance in the country. Ravuvu has also been quoted by the media that he intends to continue the Commission despite the court ruling. The University has not responded to the racist stand of one of its staff members as well as to his statements which, if acted on, would be contempt of court. Another USP staff member is working as the legal advisor to the Commission. It is not clear whether the USP has asked him to withdraw from this job as the courts have declared the Constitution valid and the Constitution Commission as illegal. |
|
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
