FIJIANS SPEAK OUT AGAINST EMERGENCY LAWS
By Philippa McDonald, ABC
Updated March 7, 2012, 1:22 pm

Prominent Fijians have spoken out against the Pacific island's military dictatorship three months after Frank Bainimarama lifted emergency laws.

Fiji has been in the grip of a military dictatorship for the past five years. Although emergency laws were lifted in Commodore Bainimarama's New Year's Eve address, the situation for those who oppose the interim government remains tough.

One of the Methodist Church's most senior leaders in Fiji has spoken out about life under the Bainimarama regime, while two former MPs charged with treason-related offences have also talked exclusively to the ABC.

The emergency laws saw the placement of censors in Fiji's newsrooms and restrictions on public meetings.

But Reverend Tavita Banivanua says the interim government has continued to undermine the Methodist Church, which enjoys close ties with the island's indigenous population.

"We have been stopped from doing our annual conference for three years already and we have been stopped from doing our other meetings, so an attempt I believe was made to try and weaken the Methodist Church," he said.

Reverend Banivanua is on the executive of Fiji's Methodist Church Assembly. He is one of the few able to speak out.

Several of the church's other senior members are facing charges of attending unauthorised meetings during the country's emergency rule.

"We have already appeared in court for more than 30 times probably," he said.

"It has been very long for the church. The church said that we stand for justice and we'll always do that."

Expression without fear

Commodore Bainimarama says the lifting of emergency laws will pave the way towards a return to democracy in September 2014.

But at the same time a public order amendment decree was introduced which many say is more punitive than martial law.

The executive director of Fiji's Women's Rights Movement, Virisila Buadromo, says the new decree grants wider unfettered powers to the police and the military.

"We ourselves need to hold the state accountable. We need to tell the state that you've said that we're going to have elections in 2014. We want to see that process happen as well," she said.

"However, we would like to see that process to be a legitimate process and for us that means a process that is supported by the people, that's driven by the people.

"For that process to be genuine there needs to be the lifting of or the repealing of certain laws which are limiting people's ability to be able to express themselves openly and without fear."

Fiji's interim attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, denies any such restrictions are in place.

"The reality is that there is nobody stopped from making comments about the government under the rules that prevail in Fiji," he said.

"So in terms of the undermining of person's right to speak obviously is misplaced."

Airport arrests

But Fiji's Trade Union Congress president Dan Urai, a former MP, disagrees with the attorney-general.

The 52-year-old was arrested in November and was kept in a cell for 10 days without access to a lawyer before being charged with urging political violence.

If convicted he faces life in prison.

"People are afraid to speak out in this country. Decrees have insured that the fear continues with people. They are still scared," he said.

"I landed into Nadi airport on the Saturday morning. There is a police officer waiting for me, telling me they wanted to see me at the police station in the airport.

"When I asked what was I taken in for, the only reply I got was, all this came from the top. Our job is to come and arrest you."

Mere Samisoni, one of Fiji's most successful businesswomen, is another former MP facing a hefty prison term.

Ms Samisoni, 73, was held in a cell for five days, at the same time Commodore Bainimarama was announcing an end to marshal law.

"I didn't expect it. I was coming off the plane and I was approached by the police and the lady superintendent, the lady inspector, Lorraine, she just said that very quietly 'we are arresting you and you will have to come with us'," she said.

"It came as a shock but I contained myself.

"I believe in freedom. I believe in democracy and I believe in the right of human beings to make their choices and at the moment that is just being violated."

Interim attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says no-one is being specifically targeted by the military regime.