
Commonwealth calls for Fiji elections
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Cmdr Bainimarama imposed the emergency law – which censored the media and banned public meetings – after the Fiji Appeal Court ruled that his coup was illegal. The constitution was also repealed.
In a new year’s speech, he said that the law would be lifted so that consultation on a new constitution could begin ahead of elections in 2014.
The Commonwealth welcomed the announcement on the constitution.
“The Secretary-General hopes that such consultations will be fully inclusive and time-bound, and that they will lead to a genuine national consensus on the constitution, clearing the way for credible elections and the return of a democratically elected government without further delay,” its statement said., external
Australian leader Julia Gillard said the end of emergency rule was a “first step”, but that more was needed.
“We do want to see action. We do want to see democracy restored,” she told a news conference.
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