27 Apr 2004

Fiji gives rights assurances over drugs bill

3:39 pm on 27 April 2004

Fiji's Attorney General is giving an assurance that the human rights of people will not be infringed when the tough new Illicit Drugs Bill becomes law.

Among other measures, the Bill will allow the bugging of telephone lines.

But Qoriniasi Bale has told Radio Legend that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure there are no cases of human rights abuses or that they are reduced to the barest minimum.

Mr Bale says this has been done by making High Court judges responsible for the issuing of warrants for telephone bugging at the request of senior police officers.

The Illicit Drugs Bill will go before parliament next month.