Issue No: 878; 23 June 2001

Responding to the deregistration, the CCF stated that it will seek a stay of the deregistration order, and apply for a judicial review of the decision of the Register of Charitable Trust.

A CCF statement said that the CCF expressed "horror to the Registrar of Charitable Trusts for their lack of decency in not informing CCF directly. We want to point out that CCF has not heard directly from the Ministry of Justice about this decision. Nor was CCF informed when the 30 days notice of de-registration was announced by Mr SM Lochan. In fact Mr Lochan, the Registrar of Charitable Trust said to Rev Akuila Yabaki 20th April that he was "merely acting under instruction" from Mr Sakiusa Rabuka the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice.

"Members of the civil society including majority in the NGO Coalition on Human Rights have given considerable support to CCF at this time."

"We call on these sister organisations to write protest letters to the Caretaker Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and the Registrar of Charitable Trusts, Mr SM Lochan."

"It is believed CCF has been targeted for its unrelenting firmness of conviction in its witness to human rights as enshrined in international covenants of human rights, the principles of good governance, constitutional democracy and the rule of law. This is why CCF is taking up the Court Case against the unconstitutional actions of the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo by not calling for Parliament, and for appointing Mr Laisenia Qarase as caretaker Prime Minister."

The CCF stated that the British government had endorsed the CCF's objects of fostering good governance, protection of human rights, prevention and resolution of conflicts, and literacy and access to information and life skills.