Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said the events of December 5th, 2006 cannot be defined as a coup.
While commenting on the Fiji Human Rights Commission report submitted to the UN High Commissioner to Human Rights, Commodore Bainimarama said he has ensured that the constitution of the country remains intact and the President's mandate set out for the interim administration is fulfilled.
Commodore Bainimarama also highlighted that according to Australian history, Governor Generals there had at least removed ministers or dissolved parliament five times between 1907 and 1975, and it was not termed a coup. He said the same action was taken in Fiji last year.
Commodore Bainimarama also reveals that the Human Rights Commission report to the UN is a response to a report submitted by two actvists from Fiji.
When contacted, Patricia Jalal said she has not written any report to the UN and does not know what Commodore Bainimarama is talking about.
Meanwhile the FHRC report to the UN states that by authorizing Laisenia Qarase's removal, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo appears to have exercised his sovereign power under section 86. She said the action was taken to protect both the constitution and the state of Fiji and to provide immunity for those who carried out his wishes in the public interest.
The report states that in the last few days of November 2006, it apparently became obvious to the President that Qarase was acting unilaterally in matters of governance in breach of section 104 of the constitution. Section 104 states that the Prime Minister must keep the President generally informed about issues relating to the governance of Fiji and must supply the President with such information the President requests concerning matters relating to the governance of the state.
Specifically, the FHRC said, President Iloilo was kept in the dark about the looming presence of the Australian naval taskforce just outside the Fiji waters in late November and he was not informed about the Prime Minister's request to Australia and NZ for foreign intervention.
The report also said that on the morning of December 5th, Laisenia Qarase refused point blank to attend a meeting with the President when called to do so.
It also notes certain matters and legislations that the Qarase government tried or managed to push through last year which included the Affirmative Action program, the Qoliqoli Bill and the Indigenous Land Claims Tribunal Bill.
Interim PM says events of Dec 5th can’t be defined as a coup
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