At the start of the month Fiji’s newly drafted constitution was given assent into the law of the land, the first time the island country has had one since the previous constitution was scrapped by the military backed regime in 2009. The new document has been praised, by those who say it provides a blueprint Read more
Fiji’s system of patron-client politics must end if the nation is to resolve its coup culture and facilitate a path towards democracy, says the Archbishop of Suva, Peter Chong. He says the present system is divisive and breeds a culture of coups and silence. Chong said interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has used the patron-client Read more
At least nine Christian denominations in Fiji have agreed to work together on a joint calendar of peace messages and peace building initiatives leading up to the 2014 elections. This resolution comes at the conclusion of the World Association of Christian Communication (WACC) Pacific Communications Rights for Peace symposium held in Suva last week. The Read more
The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma has welcomed the 2013 Constitution saying it’s good that Fiji has one. Church general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra said they were grateful that government kept its promise for a new Constitution before the general elections in September next year. “Fiji needs a democratic government and we are on Read more
An anonymous commentator on the blog Fiji Today says the heavy beating the reputations of John Samy and Archbishop Mataca, the authors of the People’s Charter, have taken from prodemocracy advocates is unjustified. He says the accusation that they have remained silent, in the face of the abandonment by the interim government of the People’s Charter principles, is untrue. The Read more
Fijians are weighing up a controversial new draft constitution aimed at restoring democracy next year. There are concerns that the document could be used by the current military ruler Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to maintain his hold on power. Critics say that what Bainimarama is doing amounts to a “constitutional coup”. In an interview on El Read more
People in Fiji have a fortnight to give their views on the regime’s draft constitution. Having scrapped its commitment to form an expert group to prepare a new constitution, Fiji’s interim government has instead given the people of Fiji a fortnight to provide feedback on the draft document. The draft document has been released and Read more