17 Sep 2018

Fiji Opposition calls for audit of human rights

5:12 am on 17 September 2018

The Fiji opposition says the United Nations Human Rights Commission should conduct an audit of the human rights situation in the country before considering Fiji's bid for a seat on UNHRC.

The opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said the UN and its member states should note that the Court of Appeal judgement ruled the 1997 Constitution was the supreme law of Fiji.

Fiji's Opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa.

Fiji's Opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa. Photo: RNZI / Sally Round

She said that judgement and the Constitution was trashed by the current government that was a military regime then in April 2009.

Ro Teimumu said contrary to the court decision, the Fijian government had moved on to establish rule by a series of draconian decrees taking control of the lives of the people.

She said the decrees were a sheer mockery of human rights in Fiji.

The SODELPA MP said as if that was not enough, the spate of torture of civilians as highlighted in an Amnesty International Report, illustrated the low ebb Fiji had reached in terms of human rights.

Last year the Fiji said it wanted to seek a seat on the UN Human Rights Council but delayed its efforts because it wanted to focus on climate change and the presidency of COP23.