Issue No: 954; 19 July 2001

Iloilo had appointed the Commission last year to review the Constitution and ensure ethnic Fijian political supremacy in the country. (see: http://www.pcgov.org.fj/archive/2000-09/no21.htm; http://www.pcgov.org.fj/archive/2000-09/no22.htm; http://www.pcgov.org.fj/archive/2000-09/no42.htm; http://www.pcgov.org.fj/archive/2000-10/no91.htm; http://www.pcgov.org.fj/archive/2000-10/no92.htm)

The Fiji Labour Party had filed for a judicial review of the decision. An interim injunction was granted which barred the Commission from sitting.
See: http://www.pcgov.org.fj/archive/2001-01/no387.htm).

Iloilo disbanded the Commission in March this year, but reappointed it later. The FLP again filed a writ against the regime seeking to disband the CRC. The High Court again issued a directive to the CRC to stop sitting and using public funds. Two weeks ago, the High Court decided that an election would be the best route for Fiji.

Iloilo this week gazetted a notice disbanding the Commission.

But regime's Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase has stated that he wants to re-establish the Commission if he won the government in the August election. Qarase is quoted by the Daily Post as saying: "If I had my way, the Constitution Review Commission would continue until it completed its work according to the mandate given by the President".

After the High Court asked the CRC to stop work again, Qarase asked the Chairman of the CRC and another member, together with some staff, to write a report on the submissions to the CRC and present it to the President before the August election.

It is believed that Qarase wants to use the report in his election campaign. Qarase has been on record as saying that the Constitution needs to be amended to ensure ethnic Fijian political supremacy in Fiji.