Human Rights Practices in Fiji have once again been criticised by a US Government agency.
The report highlights lack of freedom of speech, interference by the government in our judicial system, and a lack of association plus the right to collective bargaining.
The report says human rights problems during last year arose mainly through the Public Emergency Regulations (PER).
The PER gave the military and police the power to arrest and detain persons without a warrant and limiting freedoms of speech and press, assembly, association, and movement.
In response Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the report does not capture the ground realities of Fiji and has many anomalies.
“As we have said previously these sorts of reports sometimes tend to be political in nature so it’s taken pinch of salt but I think what we need to be focused on, we need to be focused on the future.”
The AG says people should now focus on the the constitutional consultation process.
