By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji – The Fiji Human Rights Commission has instituted a set of strict conditions that must be met before foreign missions are allowed to review Fiji’s laws.
Establishment of the new policy follows allegations that Fiji’s interim attorney general, Sayed-Khaiyum, threatened a group of lawyers planning to conduct a review of Fiji’s justice system. Last week, the London-based, International Business Association (IBA) claimed they received a letter from the interim-attorney-general which made clear that the interim government would not welcome the group and would take “appropriate steps” if IBA delegates came to Fiji.
While Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum denied these allegations, the interim government has barred the IBA in the past from reviewing Fiji’s justice system.
Dr. Shaista Shameem, chairperson to the Fiji Human Rights Commission, says that the new policy calls for “advance comprehensive terms of reference and information about the purpose of the visit as well as an opportunity to discuss findings before their publication.”
According to Dr. Shameem, the purpose of this policy is to protect the Commission’s intellectual property rights. Dr. Shameem argued, “While many foreign visitors and missions pontificated about the rule of law and good governance, they did not practice the basic and minimum principles of due process by discussing the findings with the relevant agencies of the State before publishing them or sending them to other international agencies for action.”
Dr. Shameem added that the Commission will no longer stand for, what they consider, are pointless questions.
For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji interim AG denies claims he threatened IBA group – 26 November 2008
AFP – Fiji blocks International Bar Association visit – 26 November 2008
Fiji Times – FHRC refuses to meet with foreign missions – 03 December 2008
Radio New Zealand Interational – Fiji Human Rights Commission sets new terms to meet foreign teams – 03 December 2008
FijiLive – FHRC gets strict on foreign missions – 03 December 2008
