Remove coup immunity clause, says CCF

Fiji's Citizens Constitutional Forum today asked the Constitution Commission to remove any immunity clause for coup perpetrators.

The CCF’s chief executive, Akuila Yabaki, made the submission to the Commission in Levuka today.

“Laws that give these bodies arbitrary powers should be revoked,” said Yabaki

He said the military should be bound by the sovereignty of Fiji’s constitution and accountable to civilian institutions such as the legislature.

“The size of the military should be of a scale appropriate to Fiji’s national security requirements and the recruitment and appointment of military personnel must be based on merit,” Yabaki said.

The CCF emphasised it was the role and responsibility of the Fiji Police Force to maintain law and order.

“There must be a clear separation of duties and responsibilities of the Police and the Military,” Yabaki said.

He said national security is the responsibility of the Police and the Military must only become involved through a defined constitutional process.

By Indrani Krishna