The president of the Fiji Law Society says a government decree giving coup leaders immunity from prosecution shows those in power think they're above the law.
The decree gives total immunity to all involved with the coups in 2000 and 2006.
The head of the Fiji Law Society, Dorsami Naidu, says it could be in response to a failed bid by the military to challenge a court decision awarding compensation to a man who was tortured during the coup in 2000.
"This decree basically does away with all actions, or all events that may have oocured, or that may be before a court or a tribunal or any body which would be seeking any form of damages, compensation, or any claim against the present regime."
Dorsami Naidu says the decree makes a mockery of the regime's claim that the judiciary is independent.