SUVA, Fiji — Fiji’s Pacific Centre for Public Integrity has taken issue with recent actions of Fiji’s interim administration and they have questioned their adherence to the rule of law. They specifically charged that the interim Prime Minister’s administration had publicly demonstrated that they operated above the law and had no intention of abiding by the Fijian Constitution.

These statements were redoubled after the deportation of Fiji Times publisher Evan Hannah.  According to a PCPI spokesperson, “The deliberate measures taken by the immigration officials to avoid being served the court order to prevent the deportation of Evan Hannah shows once again the deceit and arrogance that is the hallmark of this military interim regime.”

Angie Heffernan, the executive director of the PCPI, also took issue with the solicitor general’s recent request for a dismissal of Evan Hannah’s claim.  Heffernan says that the dismissal request, which is predicated on the argument that the court order to stop the expulsion has expired, demonstrates that the interim government does not respect the Fijian judiciary.  “The interim government went to extraordinary lengths to try and avoid the court order being served on the immigration officials. The nuts and bolts of the case will be dealt with, but in our view this signifies that the interim government has absolutely no respect for the court order, or for the courts in general.”

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International — Fiji’s PCPI says rule of law under pressure — 09 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji solicitor general asks court to throw out Hannah case — 08 May 2008

Fijilive — Rule of Law Undersiege in Fiji: PCPI — 06 May 2008