The chief of a new body set up to oversee discussions in Fiji on a new constitution has rejected criticism he lacks independence in his new role.
A former military officer Ratu Tevita Mara is among critics of Yash Ghai's appointment, saying the Constitution Commission chairman has links with the regime, especially the interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum who was his student.
Professor Ghai who headed the Kenyan Constitution Review Commission says he has taught thousands of students over the years including the Kenyan Attorney-General and former Chief Justice.
"I was constantly criticising them in public for their lack of integrity, corruption so just because a person has been a student, it doesn't mean that I lose my sense of fairness and transparency and the other values that I have lived all my life by."
Professor Yash Ghai
