By Angela Marie Watkins
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, announced he will reveal Fiji’s road map to democracy within the next few days.

While speaking to villagers in Tailevu North on Monday, Bainimarama said a constitution review team would be appointed to look at a new constitution and electoral changes.

The speech is one of the first times Bainimarama has publicly spoken about Fiji’s political future and although Bainimarama did not provide a timetable, or framework, it is the first signs of the country gaining a new political and social code since April, when the president annulled the country’s constitution and gave Bainimarama and his government a five-year mandate.

Bainimarama has said repeatedly one of the reasons for the military’s takeover of Fiji was to end racial and social division and Bainimarama’s speech primarily focused on how the new constitution would not tolerate politicians using racial discrimination as a tool to win votes. However, just last weekend, all police officers not on duty were required to attend a Christian crusade event. The country’s ethnic make-up means its police force has members who are Hindu and Muslim, as well as Christian.

Also, as Bainimarama was speaking of a new constitution, his government extended to August the Public Emergency Rules that limit free media by placing government censors in newsrooms, extend police search and seizure powers, and force organizations to ask for permission to hold meetings.

For more information, please see:
Australia Network News – Fiji’s multi-ethnic police join Christian crusade – 24 June 2009

New Zealand International Radio – New Fiji constitution to be drawn up soon – 24 June 2009

Fiji Sun – WE ARE ONE :PM – 24 June 2009

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited – Censorship extended till August – 24 June 2009