Fiji Regime Says It Will Ease Emergency Controls

Published January 2, 2012 3:36AM (EST)

SUVA, Fiji (AP) — Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says the military government will on Saturday lift the state of public emergency it imposed in 2009, as the country prepares to open consultation on a new constitution.

The Public Emergency Regulations gave police and the military extended powers, imposed tough censorship on the South Pacific nation's media and tightly controlled public assembly.

Fiji's military regime suspended the country's Constitution in 2009 and imposed emergency rule after the nation's Court of Appeal ruled that the military government was illegal.

Bainimarama said late Sunday that public order would be maintained and he would soon announce nationwide consultation for a new constitution to establish a democratically elected government.


By Salon Staff

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