03 2009 march - ibhri - dire straits-a report on the rule of law in fiji

8/2/2019 03 2009 March - IBHRI - Dire Straits-A Report on the Rule of Law in Fiji

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Dire Straits:

A report on the rule o law

in FijiMarch 2009

A Iraial Bar Aiai

Huma Righ Iiu Rpr


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International Bar Association

10th Floor, 1 Stephen StreetLondon W1T 1AT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)20 7691 6868

Fax: +44 (0)20 7691 6544Website: www.ibanet.org

Matia ctai i tis t ma b qt it,

i cit is i t t Itatia Ba Assciati.


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Dire Straits: A report on the rule of law in Fiji MARcH 2009 3

Table o contents

Executive Summary

Chapter 1: Background

Introduction ....................................................................................................................13

Organisation o the mission ............................................................................................13

Delegation members ...................................................................................................... 13

Interviews and consultation ...........................................................................................14

Methodology .................................................................................................................14

Political background ........................................................................................... 15

Fijis governance arrangements ....................................................................................... 17

Fijis court system .......................................................................................................... 17

The hIgh CourT ................................................................................................... 17

The CourT o AppeAl ......................................................................................... 17

The SupreMe CourT ............................................................................................ 17

Appointments to the courts Judicial Service Commission ..................................................18The path to elections ......................................................................................................18

The case oQaas Baiimaama ..............................................................................19

Chapter 2: Background to this report and the cancellations

o the IBAHRI missions

The IBAHRIs rapid response and act-fnding mechanism ................................ 23

The IBAHRIs interest and background in Fiji ..................................................... 23

Proposed February 2008 visit to Fiji .................................................................... 24

An apparent change in position ........................................................................... 31

Proposed December 2008 visit to Fiji .................................................................. 31

Previous independent reviews ............................................................................. 36

Forum Eminent Persons Group Report Fiji ...................................................................36


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4 Dire Straits: A report on the rule of law in F iji MARcH 2009

The LAWASIA observer mission ......................................................................................38

The European Union mission ........................................................................................38

Chapter 3: The independence o the judiciaryBackground ......................................................................................................... 39

Removal o the Chie Justice ............................................................................... 41

Threats and attacks against judges ....................................................................... 44

Appointment o Acting Chie Justice and Chie Justice ....................................... 44

The advices ..................................................................................................................48

Exodus o judges rom the bench ........................................................................ 49

Appointments made since January 2007 .............................................................. 50

The Judicial Oath .........................................................................................................51

Future vacancies ........................................................................................................... 51

Judicial conduct .................................................................................................. 52

Recusals and listings .....................................................................................................52

Listing o constitutional cases and cases relating to the military ...........................................54

ex at stays .............................................................................................................55

Beratement proceedings ................................................................................................58

Judge shopping ............................................................................................................ 59

Judicial perjury ............................................................................................................ 59

Writing letters to clients with solicitors on the record ...........................................................60

Contempt .....................................................................................................................60

InTernATIonAl lAw And ConvenTIonS on ConTeMpT o CourT ... 63

doMeSTIC CASe lAw .............................................................................................. 64

InTernATIonAl CASe lAw .................................................................................. 64

Judges seeking to intervene in cases where they are the trial judge .........................................65

Separation o powers .......................................................................................... 66

The interim Attorney-General and the judiciary .................................................................66

Politicisation and militarisation o the police and the public service ......................................68

Public confdence in the judiciary ....................................................................... 69

The importance o appearance in the independence o the judiciary ......................................69

InTernATIonAl lAw, ConvenTIonS And CoMMenTAry ......................... 70


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InTernATIonAl BodIeS ...................................................................................... 72

CASe lAw ................................................................................................................... 72

JudgeS SpeAk ouT ................................................................................................. 76

InTernATIonAl perCepTIonS .......................................................................... 77

Chapter 4: The independence o the legal proession

The Fiji Law Society ............................................................................................ 79

Threats o physical and psychological violence .................................................... 81

Removal o government work ............................................................................. 81

Contempt proceedings used to silence lawyers .................................................... 82

Proessional discipline o lawyers ........................................................................ 82

Travel bans used to censor lawyers ...................................................................... 84

Chapter 5: Alternative accountability mechanisms other

issues o concern

Human rights in Fiji ............................................................................................ 85

Fiji Human Rights Commission ........................................................................... 85

Response to the coup ......................................................................................................86

Current operation o the Commission ...............................................................................87

The Human Rights Commission does not comply with the Paris Principles ............................88

The media ........................................................................................................... 89Misuse o legal processes to shut down the media ................................................................89

deporTATIon o ruSSell hunTer And evAn hAnnAh .......................... 89

MISuSe o ConTeMpT proCeedIngS .............................................................. 90

Public condence in the media ........................................................................................91


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Chapter 6: Conclusion and recommendations

Overall recommendations ................................................................................... 93

Conclusions: background to this report and the cancellations o the IBAHRI missions 93

Recommendations .........................................................................................................94

Conclusions: the independence o the judiciary .................................................. 94


Conclusions: the independence o the legal proession ....................................... 95


Conclusions: alternative accountability mechanisms ........................................... 96


Attachment A ....................................................................................98

Attachment B .................................................................................. 101

Attachment C .................................................................................. 102

Attachment D .................................................................................. 104

Attachment E...................................................................................107

Attachment F ...................................................................................109

Attachment G .................................................................................. 111

Attachment H ..................................................................................113

Attachment I ................................................................................... 114

Attachment J ................................................................................... 115

Attachment K .................................................................................. 118


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Executive summary

Tis t is t st a act-i missi t rbic t iji Isas (iji)

ta b t Itatia Ba Assciatis hma rits Istitt (IBAhrI) bt

813 dcmb 2008. T IBAhrI is at t acia st i b tati o Scit Istitt.

T missi as mt b ccs abt t a, atica i t c

dcmb 2006, sic t a b tats t jicia ic a it

attacs sm as ma, aat it t imt t miita.

T 2008 a i t cs t missi, ais mmbs t ati

cst a a stas i ict i t ts tat a cc i iji

t ast t as a cct ms tccs it stas

bas i iji a aba. It s b t tat t ati ci a ait is

i its cstatis, ici bt m stas i a , a s t, titim im.

T IBAhrI as as cct csiab s sac it t sitati i iji, ici

t miti mia ts, assssmt t ts simia tics, a is

t itim mts actis jstic isss. Tis s sac m t basis t

IBAhrIs cisi t isit iji t mt it at stas t t its stai

t sitati.

T IBAhrI is at t t ati mmbs acct t iitati t ta at i

tis missi. T ati mmbs :

TheHonJusticeRoslynAtkinson,SupremeCourtofQueensland,Australia;

MrRogerTan,AdvocateandSolicitor,Malaysia;

DrLorettadePlevitz,SeniorLecturer,FacultyofLaw,QueenslandUniversityofTechnology,

Australia;

MsFeliciaJohnston,IBAHRIProgrammeLawyer,UnitedKingdom;and

MrDanielWos, rat

Summary o conclusions

Sic t dcmb 2006 c, t itim miita im as ta sts t ifc,

ct itimiat t jicia a t a ssi. Its attmts t stif tis i a

at cc, a t imati c b t ati ssts tat t a

i iji is i i staits.

The cancellation o the IBAHRIs visits

A sbstatia amt misimati as bicis abt t t s isits t

IBAhrI t iji. T IBAhrI as a ist miti t a i iji. I 2001

it cct a tia bsati a siicat Cstittia cas, a i 2006, it as a


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t citicisi t s pmti, rcciiati, Tac a uit Bi. i

t c i dcmb 2006, t IBAhrI icas its miti t sitati i iji,

a as cc b ts i a 2007, ici ts tats a

sica attacs aaist as a js a t sssi Ci Jstic dai atiai.

Csqt, it ci t isit t ct.

Cat 2 t t tis t ist t IBAhrIs attmts t qst t itim

Att-ga t mt it t ati, a is sss tat st i bt attmts

t isit iji bi cac. A cmmicatis bt t IBA a t itim Att-

ga a at Attacmts BJ. T caims t itim Att-ga tat t IBAhrI

as bias, ct b atisa as iti iji sticti i its mti aamts

a basss, a t IBAhrI mais ab t sta sc caims iiat. T

IBAhrI ciss t sbstatia st it ci bt attmts t isit iji m t

ijia -mta cmmit a a atit, m t itatia a atit

a m mts i t i. dsit t bai t itim im i

caci t IBAhrIs missis, t IBAhrI s t csi its t b bias.

T IBAhrI is cc b statmts ma b t itim Att-ga, a at

b t Acti Ci Jstic gats a Jstic hici, it t jsti t jcti t

IBAhrI ati, tat t it i tams a is t ijia

jicia t b it. A i ac ts isits i Cat 2 ics tat tis is

t i act t cas, a tat sc caims a aacis a misai.

The independence o the judiciary

T IBAhrI ci ms ts tat t iji jicia as ii it 2000 c, csisti a maiais tat st stict i t

Cstitti i t c a at tat ic Ci Jstic atiai. T

IBAhrI tat t is a i i iji tat t 2006 c a t maiais iti

t jicia a tit t asst miac t bc.

T cicmstacs si t ma Ci Jstic atiai ais a mb sis

ccs abt t ic t jicia. Ci Jstic atiai as m m is

c b statis t ct itim im a c t ta a ss.

w attmti t t, Ci Jstic atiai as ca it a a miscct

cs, ici cas tat as i i t 2000 c, a sbjct tim t

a qstiab, a isciia css ic as a iss as at a sttmt

tiati bt im a t im ac i dcmb 2008. As at t sttmt,

Ci Jstic atiai si as Ci Jstic m dcmb 2008, amst a a at is

ma. It is siicat cc t t IBAhrI tat t sssi t m Ci Jstic

as b cc i tis a. I t aatis t, t xtm sis a

aat istiati a csiati b a it tiba. I sc cicmstacs,

it is i iaiat t itim im t a t cas a ma a a

amt t t m Ci Jstic t aciitat is siati. Atati, i t aatis

as, t act tat t itim im ss t Ci Jstic a t im m

ti t c as ti itt ati, cstitti a sis a aat


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iati b t itim im t ic t jicia. T is ccsi tat

ca b a m t sti t sssi t Ci Jstic tat s t a sis

ati imicatis t a i iji.

T IBAhrI as as sis cc b ts ci as t sica tats a attacs

aaist js i 2007. Tats a attacs aaist t jicia a acctab i a

cicmstacs, a ts attacs a xtm cci t t IBAhrI. T IBAhrI as t

i a siti t istiat ts attacs i t tai i its missi, t its iabiit

t t t ct.

d t i jicia csss, t IBAhrI as ai m cmmti t aiit

t Jicia Sics Cmmissi (JSC) mti tat st i t aitmt Jstic

gats as Acti Ci Jstic. h, tis t sts t acts a ma t

is tat a b ma ai tis aitmt.

T IBAhrI csis tat t is a cti tat t jicia i iji as b

cmmis, a tat t ma b cstittia qstis ai t aiit aitmts. i t xs ms xatiat js tt 2007 a

a 2008 a a mb aitmts t ac ts sitis, t hi Ct a

Ct Aa as b sa. T IBAhrI stas tat a mb aitmts

t t Sm Ct a as t xi, a is cc abt at tis i ma

t t ic tat ct. At tis sta, it aas tat t is a t ma

qstii itimat aitmts t ts s acacis as a s accts

a miati i b ci as cmmis b t mt aitmt.

At t ccsi its missi, Acti Ci Jstic gats as ait as mat

Ci Jstic. Csqt, t IBAhrI as t ab t istiat tis i its missi.

h, tis aitmt qis t i as t its cstittiait. I t

aitmts Ci Jstic gats as bt acti a mat Ci Jstic a

a, ts js ait ct a i t t ma as b cmmis b t

css ti aitmt.

T IBAhrI as sis ccs ai jicia cct i iji. xam, a mb

js a b ait mt i t dcmb 2006 c a a

cass tat at t t cstittiait ti aitmts. Tis bacs t a

csa, ic ibits js m sii a matt i ic s s a itst.

o atica cc t t IBAhrI as t aat actic a atica j ati

t x at stas a cisi is t aab t t itim mt. T i

xss t t ati as tat t stas a iaiat a itt a basis, as

as bi at i qstiab cicmstacs.

ot ccs, ici t ccc batmt cis t itimiat citics

thejudiciary;judgeshopping;judicialperjury;theoccurrenceofCourtRegistrystaffwriting

directletterstoclientswithsolicitorsontherecord;theapparentuseofcontemptpowersto

stiecriticismandlegalchallenges;areportofajudgeattemptingtointerveneinanappeal

hearingfromherowndecision;andanapparentlyinappropriatecloserelationshipbetweensomemmbs t jicia a t itim im, a b istiat i t i tis t.


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As a st a ts ccs, i aiti t a assssmt t ijia mia a t

cmmta, t IBAhrI tat t is a aat ac ic a bic

cc i t iji jicia at t ct tim.

The independence o the legal proession

T IBAhrI as tat t iji la Scit (lS) as a a ict atisi it t

itim im sic t c i dcmb 2006. Simia t t jicia, it aas tat t lS

a b ais t siti t t is mt, ic as tasat it

st t miita im.

A mb miita as t stc t i t c, t ti

t imt i it. Cs, t IBAhrI ci ts tat a ms it xatiat

as tat it ai ti mits cac s t citicis t c.

T IBAhrI as ci ts tat t ii iti t lS cti t it m

tai st acti aaist t itim im a t ts tat .

T IBAhrI as cc b ts ms icits ats t

miita mt s sica a scica ic aaist ma

bic cmmts tat citica t ims actis, ici aaist as. T

ati as im tat t majit ts icits t ac st at t c.

T ati as as t tat as a b ta m ti ms at at it a

tai i miita baacs a mb s. di tis tim, t sbjct t

sica a mta ic a tats ma tat ss t sist m sai t

aaist t miita mt, ti amiis as b sbjct t tti a tt.

Ctmt cis a ta bas a as aat b s i a attmt t stif

citicism t jicia a t itim im.

T lS as b sis citicis b t itim mt aii t aqat

iscii as. Ts citicisms a ccs cbat b t atis

iscssis it stas tt iji. rts cm tat t is a siicat

bac i iscii cass, a tat bic cc i t a ssi is t

-ssiss t cmaits. T itim im as ac its itti t stabis

a la Sics Cmmissi t a cmaits aaist as, ic as cas siicat

cstati tt t a cmmit. Tis is t as tat t Cmmissi i

t at ai act it t itim im.

rass t ct ctiss t lSs isciia csss, t IBAhrI

csis tat it is iaiat a bat atati sas t ta ac ti

mcac is st. t, t IBAhrI csis tat ima ssibiit sc

iscii mst mai it t a ssi, i assciati it t jicia.

Alternative accountability mechanisms

T IBAhrI ciss t imtac bt t iji hma rits Cmmissi a ijis

mia t s acctabiit t mt. T Cmmissi a t mia a, i

t ast, a tatis mai it, bst a baac ctibtis t ijis

itica iscs. h, tis as ca sic t 2006 c.

T IBAhrI tat t asi t hma rits Cmmissi as b ta


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b a miita ait is st smattic t t miita mt a

s its maat. t, it tat t mia as b sic b t tati

mia s a t miss ctmt cis t st bat.

RecoMMendAtIons

T IBAhrI cmms:

(1) Tat ctis a at t aist tit i t st mcac t iji a

itimac t a mt actis.

(2) Tat t itim im ais m a itc it t ic t

jicia a t a ssi.

(3) Tat t itim im ais m attmti t ma a cas t t iji

Cstitti t stct t iji a a jstic sstm m a.

(4) Tat t itim im b tasat a acctab, a ais m iibiti

accss t iji it itatia atis sc as t IBAhrI ati a

t un Scia rat t Ic Js a las.

(5) Tat t itim im a t ct mmbs t jicia i iji ai m

misai t bic as t t at is itatia is t sitati i iji.

(6) Tat t itim Att-ga a t itim miita mt sct t ici

t saati s a st t mt a it jicia.

(7) Tat a mmbs ijis jicia tt t cm sa cfict a

st ciait acss t jicia.

(8) Tat ti ctis a , t aitmts t t jicia bc a ma i

t ai t bt bi s t itimac t ct aitmts t

t jicia i iji.

(9) Tat a mmbs ijis jicia a t ti at sic b i t

Cstitti a i it t a i accac it t as iji itt a

a, acti i i a t cct tmss it t tmst itit at a tims.

(10) Tat a js mst cs tmss m cass t aiit ti siti as j t aitmt s t as t t qsti t a as t csi.

(11) Tat a aitmts t a sssis m t bc t cs ti

i t Cstitti.

(12) Tat t Ci Jstic a a ts ssib cas maamt s tat cass a

ist ai i a tasat, ai a qitab ma.

(13) Tat t itim mt as it a aatis jicia miscct t

it tibas st a b cstittia csss m xcti

itc ifc.

(14) Tat t lS s ta sts t t its a ca t t JSC as s as ssib


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a ai a t as.

(15) Tat t itim mt sists m mai itica a miita aitmts t

bic sic a ic s.

(16) Tat t iji jicia sct m xssi amst t mia a t a ssi.

(17) Tat t itim im scts t ic t a ssi i iji, a

ais m mai iaiat citicisms t a ssi iiia as.

(18) Tat t itim im istiats t aatis sica abss as i t

atmat t c, a tas acti aaist ts ssib.

(19) Tat t itim im scts t ic t lS.

(20) Tat t itim im abas its sas t stabis a la Sics Cmmissi

isciii as.

(21) Tat t lS is its xisti isciia cs a stabiss m cit

cs t s tat cmaits aaist as a at it ai a xitis.

t, t lS is t istiat as aisi t ab it t immt

ts cs as s as ssib.

(22) Tat t itim im itas its icti tat mt mst t b

i t scic a ms.

(23) Tat t itim im cass attmti t s ctmt cis a ta bas t

ifc t ssib cct as.

(24) Tat mmbs t iji jicia ss tat ctmt cis a t s t

sic itimat itica bat t ifc t ssib cct as.

(25) Tat t itim im aciitats t it a ati t iji hma

rits Cmmissi a ijis mia.

(26) Tat t Cai t iji hma rits Cmmissi ss tat t Cmmissi

cmis it t staas ma its cmmissis st t i t pais picis.

(27) Tat t iji hma rits Cmmissi acts it a i cmiac it its

s a maats t iji Cstitti a a.

(28) Tat t iji hma rits Cmmissi sists m mai iaiat a misai

statmts ai a itimat citicism b t ctis itatia acis

ijis cmiac it ma its staas a mcatic icis.

(29) Tat it a ai-mi Cmmissis a ait t t iji hma rits

Cmmissi i accac it Cstittia icis a csss.

(30) Tat t iji hma rits Cmmissi abis b a cais t its maat, a ais

stabisi cmmissis iqi ai xtas matts.

(31) Tat t itim mt sists m si ctmt tati cis t

attmt t ct imati i t t cmmit b t mia.


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Chapter 1: Background

Introduction

1.1 Tis t is t st a act-i missi t rbic t iji Isas (iji)ta b t Itatia Ba Assciatis hma rits Istitt (IBAhrI) bt

813 dcmb 2008. T missi as mt b ccs ais abt t a,

atica i t c dcmb 2006, sic t a b tats

t jicia ic a it attacs sm as ma, aat it t

imt t miita.

1.2 T atis tms c :

(1) t xami t ct stats t jicia i iji a t t is xcti

otherinterferenceintheirindependence;

(2) t xami ts iaiat aitmts t t jicia sic dcmb 2006

a t ts a imact bic cc i t ic t

judiciary;

(3) toexaminethesituationinvolvingtheremovaloftheformerChiefJustice;

(4) t xami t ct stats t a ssi, a t it bis tat

st t a ssi, t xami t t a acctab cstaits

ti ic t t a b sbjct t aassmt iaiat

interferencebythegovernment;

(5) t tmi t t is a t imimt, it i a i actic, ic

jeopardisestheadministrationofjustice;

(6) toprepareareportfordisseminationasappropriate;and

(7) t ma cmmatis t actiitis a jcts t ass a ccs

t b t ati.

Organisation o the mission

1.3 T Itatia Ba Assciati (IBA) is t s ast as stati

aisati cmisi 30,000 iiia as a 195 ba assciatis a a

scitis. I 1995, t IBA stabis t IBAhrI t ha psic ns

Maa. T IBAhrI is -itica a s acss t IBA, i t mt, tct

a c ma its a jst a a t s t ic t

jicia a t ssi i.

Delegation members

1.4 T IBAhrI is at t t ati mmbs acct t iitati t ta at i


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tis missi. T ati mmbs :

TheHonJusticeRoslynAtkinson,SupremeCourtofQueensland,Australia;

MrRogerTan,AdvocateandSolicitor,Malaysia;

DrLorettadePlevitz,SeniorLecturer,FacultyofLaw,QueenslandUniversityofTechnology,Australia;

MsFeliciaJohnston,IBAHRIProgrammeLawyer,UnitedKingdom;and

MrDanielWoods,Rapporteur

Interviews and consultation

1.5 T 2008 a i t cs t missi, ais mmbs t ati

cst a a stas i ict i t ts tat a cc i iji

t ast t as a cct ms tccs it ts stas bas i iji a aba. d t ccs abt t sat ijia bas stas

i is attacs a citicisms aaist ts a s t abt ti

xics a is, t IBAhrI as ci tat ts cst i t b ist i tis

t. h, it s b t tat t ati ci a ait is i its

cstatis, ici bt m stas i a , a s t, t itim

im. T IBAhrI i t ta tis tit t ta a ts s it t

ati a i aitia scs t aciitat tis i.

Methodology

1.6 T IBAhrI as b miti a ii t sitati i iji a mb as.

Tt 2007 it atica mit ts i t dcmb 2006 c,

ici t sssi t Ci Jstic a si at a mb hi

Ct a Ct Aa js. It as as xtm cc b ts abss aaist

as i t immiat atmat t c.

1.7 As a st tis itst, t IBAhrI as cct siicat s sac it t

sitati i iji, ici miti mia ts, assssmt t ts simia

tics, a is t itim gmts actis jstic isss. Tis s sacm t basis t IBAhrIs cisi t isit iji t mt it at stas t

t its stai t sitati.

1.8 As iscss t i Cat t, t itim im acti t t IBAhrI ati

m isiti iji t ca t tis i t ccasis. i t cacati t

sc s isit, t IBAhrI csi it i i tat t itim im

a t ati a accss t iji t cct its i. T, t IBAhrI

ci t cct t i mt, a iit a aticiats a is a t

mt it t IBAhrI ati t sa it it t t. Mst stas a

t tis ammt, a t tccs cai t m Bisba i t 812 dcmb 2008. T ati tat t t itis xtm


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cti, a amst a ts iti a a . A mb itis as

cai t i s a ia t it stas tsi iji.

1.9 h, as is it m tis t, t majit t ic i i tis i

as b ima sc matia sc as cass, bic statmts, ct cmts a t

it iab cmts. Tis as b smt b bis as, sa

ts a t aass b ts a i a siti t cmmt t sitati i iji.

T t is c tt sc cmts a b s.

Political background

1.10 iji ai ic m t uit kim i 1970, at 96 as cia .1

iji as b sbjct t cs, ac ic as b at t tic iisis iti

iji. T st c t ac i 1987, i t mati ijis st I-ijia

majit mt, b d Timci Baaas lab Caiti pat. I Ma 1987, a c

b litat C Sitii raba sccss attmt t t Baaasgmt. litat C raba sta a sc c i Stmb 1987, tis

tim si t ct mt, i t 1970 Cstitti a cai iji a

bic.2 i a itim i miita , litat C raba st

i dcmb 1987, aiti t is g ga, kaatabat gaia, as

psit, rat Si kamiss Maa as pim Miist a ims as Miist hm Aais.3

A cstitti as t i ac i 1990 tat s majitis iis ijias i

bt ss aiamt.4

1.11 I 1993, a cti as t 1990 Cstitti a litat C raba as

ct pim Miist. I 1997, a a i t Cstitti t t ati a Cstitti, ic aat iis ijia miac i mst si mt

a amiistati sitis. Cstittia ammts i 1988 attmt t itc sm

tic baac i mt, ici ii a mti-tic Cabit.

1.12 ectis i 1999 t am 1997 Cstitti a a I-ijia,

Maa Ca, as ct pim Miist, ai a caiti mt m b is

I-ijia-miat lab pat.5

1.13 pim Miist Cas mt as iss i 2000, i a c attmt

b iis ijia atiaist g Sit, cci paiamt 19 Ma 2000,

i pim Miist Ca, mmbs is Cabit a t mmbs is caiti

mt sta 56 as.6 o 27 Ma 2000, psit Maa paiamt

six mts a t as at Cmm Baiimaama t t abat t 1997

Cstitti, aiti ims as a a itim miita mt.7 psit Maa

1 uS datmt Stat, Bac nt: iji, at .stat.//a/i/b/1834.tm (ast accss 23 octb 2008).

2 i a Cmmat oc, iji, at .c..//abt-t-c/ct-s/asia-caia/asia-ji?=a,(ast

accss 21 octb 2008).

3 Ibid.

4 Tis i at t t act tat i t cs 1987, sm 12,000 Iias t t isas, s: ibi.

5 Saja rams, viit dstcti dmcac i iji, Stmb 2002, at .ss./imas/acspd/58_1.

(ast accss 23 octb 2008).

6 Republic o Fiji Islands v Prasad[2001]FJCA2;Abu0078.2000s(1March2001).

7 rt isit t iji b lAwASIA obs Missi, lAwASIA, 5, at tt://aasia.as.a/bjctiba/150?am=laas

ia%20isits%20iji. (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).


16/118


csi tat a abati t Cstitti mat tat is tm as psit as. o

J a J 2000 a mb cs bis b t miita mt, aiti

M laisia Qaas as pim Miist a mi t gat Cci Cis (Bose Levu

Vakaturaga) t ait a itim psit.8

1.14 o 14 J 2000, t gat Cci Cis ait rat Jsa Ii as psit.9 M

Sit as ast 26 J 2000 a ca it tas.

1.15 I nmb 2000, Jstic gats t hi Ct i Republic o Fiji Islands v Prasad10

tat t 1997 Cstitti a t b abat i t c. It a b sccss

a tat t cti cssit i t a. Tis cisi as b t Ct

Aa i Mac 2001 it s. T Ct Aa tat t 1997

Cstitti a t b abat, tat it mai t sm a i iji a tat t

sic a t bcm acat ti psit Maa si, cti 15 dcmb 2000.11

ectis i 2001 t cm ci cstittia iaitis, ic pim

Miist Qaass Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua(Sdl) at .1.16 Tsis bt t mt a Cmm Baiimaamas miita icas i

2005, aaist a bac ctsia isati sas t at amst t ctai

catis aticiats i t 2000 c. Cmm Baiimaama s t sas

t basis tat t st a cssa ccssi t bjctiab ijia-atiaist

stimt. pim Miist Qaas t xt ctis, ic 613 Ma 2006

a i Stmb 2006 Qaas as s i as pim Miist a sc tm, ai t

Sdl at bac t mt.12

1.17 T st t ctis scaat tsis bt pim Miist Qaass mt a

t miita. T iji hi Ct at scib t sitati as sci it a atisi

icasi i i a cfict i bic a iat xcas bt t Cmma

t rM [t miita] t a a t pim Miist t t bt

sti a acimis.13 I at octb 2006, t miita iss pim Miist Qaas

it a sis qsts, ici tat t mt ca t 2000 c ia, ita

t bis, st a istiati it Cmm Baiimaamas cct i t c,

tmiat t Cmmissi pics t a m t cmmcia am t nati

la Tst Ba. Sbsqt, t Cmmissi pic ac tat Cmm

Baiimaama b istiat siti.14

1.18 o 5 dcmb 2006, t miita t ct t stts Sa a Cmm

Baiimaama assm xcti atit, caimi ims psit, ismissi t pim

Ministerandpublishinganextraordinarygazettenoticeproclaimingastateofemergency.He

as ait a itim pim Miist, d Ja Baaiaa Siaaai.

1.19 o 4 Jaa 2007, Cmm Baiimaama st M Ii t t sic a t

8 Ibid.

9 Ibid, 8.

10 Prasad, supra 6.

11 Ibid.

12 T sts t cti ca b at t iji ecta Cmmissi bsit, at .ctis..j/sts2006.tm (ast ac-

css 22 Jaa 2009).

13 Qarase and Others v Bainimarama and Others, iji hi Ct, 9 octb 2008 gats A/CJ, B a pati JJ at [34].

14 Ibid, at [47] t [49].


17/118


itim pim Miist si.15 T i a, psit Ii ait Cmm

Baiimaama as itim pim Miist. o 18 Jaa 2007, psit Ii ac

t Immit (iji Miita gmt Itti) pmati 2007, ic at

a citia immit m a cimia cii a miita isciia

ssia cis csqcs t t am cs i t ct

i i t c, a a t ss act ti cmma i t a t

t c a ti 5 Jaa 2007.

1.20 o 31 Ma 2007 t stat mc as it. Cmm Baiimaama a stat tat

thestateofemergencywastoprovidesafetyforthecitizensofourcountryandsafeguard

iat t a basica t m t ct a ac it miimm cii

st a isti.16 T stat mc as -ims i Stmb 2007 t

s pim Miist, M Qaas, t t Sa m xi vaabaa Isa.17 T

sc stat mc as it 6 octb 2007.18paiamt as t sat sic it as

iss b psit Ii i t dcmb 2006 c.

Fijis governance arrangements

1.21 a smma ijis ac aamts, as s Attacmt A.

Fijis court system

1.22 Aat m t cts sc as t Maistats cts, t a t mai cts i iji

t hi Ct, t Ct Aa a t Sm Ct.

The high CourT

1.23 T hi Ct as imit jisicti t a a tmi cii a cimia

cis, as as cstittia matts. T hi Ct ca as a aas m

sbiat cts ( i icti sisi t sbiat cts). T hi Ct

is a b t Ci Jstic.

The CourTof AppeAl

1.24 T Ct Aa as aas cass m t hi Ct. It is ma a psit

(a j xct t Ci Jstic), ait Ct Aa js a t is js t hi Ct.

The Supreme CourT

1.25 T Sm Ct is t ax ct, ai it aas aaist jmts i t Ct

15 Ibid, at [68].

16 iji its mc ims at dcmb c, rts, 31 Ma 2007, at .ts.cm/atic/atstCisis/iuSSyd273137

(ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).

17 rica Mis, iji Stat emc r-Ims, Pacic Magazine,atwww.pacicmagazine.net/news/2007/09/06/ji-state-of-

mc--ims (ast accss 22 octb 2008).

18 Stat emc it bcas Qaas s tat t t ati, BBC ns, 3 octb 2007, at: tt://s.bbc.c./1/i/

/asia-acic/7029352.stm (ast accss 6 Jaa 2009).


18/118


Aa. T Sm Ct ca as ais t psit cstittia qstis.19

Appointments to the courts Judicial Service Commission

1.26 T Jicia Sic Cmmissi (JSC) is a b maat b t Cstitti t miat

js aitmt t t bc.20 It csists t Ci Jstic ( is its Cai), t

Cai t pbic Sic Cmmissi a t psit t iji la Scit (lS). It is as

m t istiat cmaits aaist js a ta aiat isciia acti.

1.27 A js, ba t Ci Jstic, a ait b t psit t miati t JSC,

i cstati it a at hs rstatis Cmmitt. T Ci Jstic

is ait b t psit, t aic t pim Miist, i cstati it

t la t ositi.21 Js mst a i jicia c a s as

actic as a baist sicit i iji t ct a b paiamt.22

1.28 T JSC as as t t miat js t act as Ci Jstic a hi Ct

j i t sbstati j is abst t siti is acat. I tis cas, t JSC masa cmmati t t psit at csti it t at Miist, t

aits tat mi it a acti siti.23

The path to elections

1.29 T itim mts timi sti mcac as xt b its iia

at. I octb 2007, Cmm Baiimaama t pacic as at t pacic

Isa m tat mcatic ctis b b Mac 2009.24 I Ast 2008,

Cmm Baiimaama ac tat t itim mt a t iata

am ijis Cstitti t icat a ps Cat.25 I Stmb 2008,

ac tat ctis t b ti a Cstitti is i ac.26 As t i

t Qarase v Bainimaramacas, Cmm Baiimaama as iicat:

w t ct is stab a t ecta rs a t maciis ectis

a b i a am, ctis i b . w tst tat t

mt i a s it ac a sit a m t ii acia

ii tat ct bsts mticta ati.27

T ps Cat Ca, pac a pss (ps Cat) is t a

ct t itim mts cta m css, ic is as t natia

Cci Bii a Btt iji. A at t Cat as as 6 Ast 2008 a

19 Scti 123, iji Cstitti, at .sat.ib.c/a/ic/j00000_.tm#C007 (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).

20 Scti 131, ibid.

21 Scti 132, ibid.

22 Scti 130, ibid.

23 Scti 132, ibid.

24 Mica p, iji c a miss mcac b Mac 2009, rts, 17 octb 2008, at .ts.cm/atic/-

ns/iuSSyd28653120071017 (ast accss 23 octb 2008).

25 Baiimaama sas Cstitti i b ca, iji li, 25 Ast 2008, at .jii.cm/s_/ix./s/s_

s/7968 (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).

26 Noelectionsuntilvotingchanges,NewZealandHerald,previouslyatwww.nzherald.co.nz/ji-coups/news/article.cfm?c_

i=582&bjcti=10534616.

27 Qarase, supra 13, at [58].


19/118


ics cmmatis t ca t cta css t a tia sstm.28

1.30 T s t IBAhrIs i t a i iji i t xt t a csiati

t s cti, t ps Cat. T IBAhrI acs tat t

a siicat fas iti ijis cta sstm, ici acia biass. h, t IBAhrI

csis tat it is iaiat a ct, miita im t ma siicat cas

t a cstitti t a ctis a as. t, t IBAhrI csis tat

t cti actis t miita mt a a bstac t t ss

ac a mcac i iji, a ctis mst b at t aist tit.

The case oQara v Baiimarama

1.31 T ca t t ait t c is sti t aa csss t iji

cts. T, t IBAhrI i t st its is t ait tis t

c, bt i cmt t acts a st ais is tat a b xss. A

i t cas i b as c a jicia csss a b xast.1.32 o 4 octb 2007 t hi Ct cmmc ai t a ca bt b

Qaas aaist Cmm Baiimaama a t itim im t dcmb 2006

c.29 T ima qsti csiati as t t psit c act i t

cisis dcmb 2006 a Jaa 2007 i t a tat i a t t t c

as aat, xcs cssa.30 Cta t Qaass cas as t ittati t

Cstittia s it i t a a t psit iji, ic

Cmm Baiimaama a assm a bi i tim i t c i

t ismiss Qaas b ti tm t psit Ii. Qaas st t stabis tat

Cmm Baiimaama a assm t siti ha Stat t tatstoIloiloofatotalmilitarytakeover;alternatively,evenifthiswasnotthecaseCommodore

Baiimaamas caacit as acti itim psit i t mit im t iata ismiss

Qaas. At t ai, Qaass a, n pam, a tat acci t t Cstitti,

Ii, as psit, i t a t t ismiss pim Miist Qaas, tai

t cc t hs rstatis.31 M pam a tat t m t ismiss

Qaas as a i bcas Cmm Baiimaama a t s. pam

a t tat ass at actis Cmm Baiimaama a ta, Ii

mai i c as psit.32 u is istatmt, t psit s a

Cmm Baiimaamas actis.33 T cas csi t t t psit as t aiat Cmm Baiimaamas actis i tis a.

1.33 It s b t tat t aas t b a isa bi b sts t itim

im tat at t c as ia, it as jsti cssa. T cti cssit

as iia i paista, it as s b a ct t jsti t issti t

28 nCBB ss at ps Cat,Fiji Times, 4 Ast 2008, at .jitims.cm/st.asx?=aci&i=96898 (ast ac-

css 23 octb 2008).

29 gabi habbi, iji Ct has ost pMs Ca t lait C,Jurist, 4 octb 2007, at

tt://jist.a.itt./acas/2007/10/ji-ct-as-st-ms-ca. (ast accss 23 octb 2008).


31 vaisi raica, psit a t p,Fiji Times, 5 octb 2007, at .jitims.cm/st.asx?i=71777 (ast accss 23

octb 2008).

32 raica, ibid.



20/118


rstconstitutionalassemblyandthegovernmentofPrimeMinisterKhawiaNazimUddin,on

t basis tat i t atmat a sccss c, t atia a mst its aiit

t a-cati a.34 Tis cti as sic b a as jstii

cs a t tas mt i Zimbab, paista, uaa, gaa, niia,

Cs a ts.

1.34 I ss t t c, n Zaa xt sactis aaist iji, ici t

sssi ai a t ibiti a mmbs ijis miita m isiti n

Zaa.35 At t tim, t pim Miist h Ca a i Miist wist

pts stat: T mst cas ti isac acts a st t itimat ct

mt, s t csqcs ti ss ia acts.36 T uS Ambassa

t iji ca Cmm Baiimaama t t t mcatica ct mt

t a ss ai.37 T Astaia gmt as cm t c a

ss mst ai t t ct.38

1.35 o 12 dcmb 2006, t ea paiamt ass a sti mai t t pim Miist Qaas a is mt t , a ca atis a sss t

b ims iji b pacic m ctis a t ia a itatia acts.39

1.36 T jmt i Qarase v Bainimarmaas a 9 octb 2008, a a

at t Ct st ba t a t matt a sm mts at t ccsi t

ais. T hi Ct i a t ats. T Ct tat t

aticati b psit Ii at ti t 4 Jaa 2007 t cisis

andactionsofCommodoreBainimaramain:dismissingthePrimeMinisterandCabinet;the

dissolutionofParliament;theappointmentofnewMinisters;andtheabsolutionoftheactsof

CommodoreBainimaramaandhismen;werewithintheexerciseofaPresidentsprerogatives.40

1.37 T ct csi t t psits ati s ab im t tis

tsi t Cstitti. T Ct stat:

w tat xctia cicmstacs xist, t i b t Cstitti, a

tat t stabiit t Stat as a. w as tat t cs acti

as asab aaiab, a tat sc acti as ta b t psit as asab

cssa i t itsts ac, a mt. rat ta imaii t

justrightsofcitizensweconcludethatthePresidentsactionsweredesignedtoprotectai ait cmti its m isacmt b aii cfaati.41

1.38 T Ct tat t psit a act:

34 State v Dosso(1958) S Ct 533.

35 nZ xts sactis aaist iji, The Age, 6 dcmb 2006, at .ta.cm.a/s/w/ijis-at-i-as---nZ-

pM/2006/12/06/1165080980965.tm (ast accss 14 Jaa 2009).

36 Ibid.

37 Ibid.

38 ijia miita ci cas c, 5 dcmb 2006, ABC ns oi, at .abc.t.a/s/sitms/200612/s1804858.tm

(ast accss 12 Jaa 2009).

39 Mti a rsti, 12 dcmb 2006, at .a.a./sis/tdc.?t=MoTIon&c=B6-2006-

0649&aa=en (ast accss 12 Jaa 2009).


41 Ibid, at [162].


21/118


st, imatia, ta a i at a as t bst itsts t

ati, tat is, a t iabitats iji. It is t tis ct t iqi it

t tais is acts t cmmt t acti a b btt

at a. Bt it is ctai t cc is ittis t i t

iji.42

1.39 T cisi as sic b aa, a is t b a i t Mac 2009 sittis

t Ct Aa. As stat, t IBAhrI s t it t aas t cisi at tis

sta, i tat t a sti i aas i tai. h, ccs abt t jicia

a tat a t cas s b t. T jicia a csist Acti Ci Jstic

gats, Jstic J B a Jstic daa pati. o ts, Jstic pati a b

ait i is siti i t t c (t Acti Ci Jstic as a j, bt t Ci

Jstic). T, t IBAhrI as siicat ccs abt t imatiait t bc

ai t cas, as t aiit ti aitmts as Ci Jstic a J, scti,

ttia act b ti cisi i tis cas. T IBAhrI is t t ii

tat Acti Ci Jstic gats a Jstic B s a cs tmss. Tis iscsi i at tai at aaas 3.52 t 3.62.

1.40 o sa t tat t cisi a a citicism.43 i t cisi,

M Qaas cmmt:

I ti mst i iji a st, ici ms. It is qit a biab

cisi. I am xtm isait It is a iics sitati. It i ca t

cs. I ti t imatiait jicia is cmt .44

1.40 g wiiams, a ss i a at t uisit n St was, as aa i

cstittia cass b iji cts, t tat t cisi as a maj isaitmt.45

pss wiiams t t scib t cisi:

T Ct tat t psit iji, rat Jsa Ii uia, act a i

atii t ismissa pim Miist laisia Qaas i issi paiamt a i

ati immit t t as dcmb 2006 c. It as tat t psit

c iji ict b c itt t a timtab t i ctis.

T Ct tat a tis c cc csistt it t 1997 iji Cstitti.

Tis as bas t iat a cti tat t Cstitti c accmmat sc

xtaia mcatic acts itt its bi cmmis.46

1.41 pss wiiams t t t tat:

Tis atst cisi is at s it t mst imtat a icis. It i t

i camt t t cs i iji, a i s i t pacic,

bt mi t a b ii tt t t psit tat acs

42 Ibid, at [157].

43 iji accs tats t jicia i, TVNZ,26November2008,athttp://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/ji-accused-threats-judicial-

i-2334356 (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).

44 laisia Qaas attacs jicia ismissa c cas, The Australian, 9 octb 2008, at

.tastaia.s.cm.a/st/0,25197,24470761-2703,00.tm (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).

45 g wiiams, Qaas Baiimaama: ijis Cstitti , east Asia m, 14 nmb 2008, at .astasiam.

/2008/11/14/qaas--baiimaama-jis-cstitti-- (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).

46 Ibid.


22/118


im ab t ca isis t iji Cstitti.47

1.43 Mic Bs, is t a t siti, stat tat:

[t] jmt itimis tas as a mas cai mts i iji ic

s t ca m cs i iji [ is] at tat t cisi xs t

jicia as it.48

47 Ibid.

48 iji hi Ct dismisss Qaas Cas, laiss psits Actis i C, Solomon Times Online, 13 octb 2008, at .sm-

tims.cm/s.asx?Id=2802 (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).


23/118


Chapter 2: Background to this report and

the cancellations o the IBAHRI missions

2.1 T as b a sbstatia amt misimati bicis abt t t s

isits t IBAhrI t iji. Tis scti aims t st t i tai t bac t t

IBAhrIs assssmt t a i iji, t sts ta b bt attmts ma

b t IBAhrI t isit iji, a t asi bi its cisi t ca t a a tai

i mt. I t cti t misimati i t bic mai, a sis tts

a ss statmts a b attac t tis t at Attacmts B-k.

2.2 t, tis scti i as istat tat t caims ma b t itim im a sm

mmbs t jicia tat is it is a t jicia t b

it a iaccat a misai.

The IBAHRIs rapid response and act-fnding mechanism

2.3 w t IBAhrI csis t a t b tat i a scic ct, it itis

t a ai ss act-i missi is aat a ssib. As a st st, t

IBAhrI cmmicats it t ca ba assciati a scit t istiat t a

i IBAhrI ati c b iit t isit t ct t ca t a it,

imatia a -itica i t a. w sc a iitati is tcmi,

t IBAhrI cs a i- ati sct jists t isit t ct a

ca t xtsi mtis. St at ts isits, a cmsi t ici

cmmatis t ss a iti bms is as. xam, i nmb

2007, t IBAhrI as a t taii ccs icasi xcti ifc

t jicia, t a ssi a t scti i pa, mai 20 cmmatis

acti. I J 2007, t IBAhrI as a t cci t sssi t Ci

Jstic paista, i at i isit.49

The IBAHRIs interest and background in Fiji

2.4 T IBAhrI as b i i a isss i iji ma as. xam, i 2001,

d pt Maa, psit t Baamas Ba Assciati, isit iji i 2001 ba t IBAhrI t bs t cas Republic o Fiji and the Attorney-General o Fiji v Chandrika

Prasad.50 d Maa cc tat t ai as ai, a satis itatia staas.

I ba 2006, t IBAhrI as a t tit iji: Cmmts ijis pmti

rcciiati, Tac a uit Bi, ic xami a s ic isati

tat it t stabis a St Aica-st tt a cciiati cmmissi i sct

ts si t c Ma 2000. I its t, t IBAhrI citicis t isati,

ti ccs tat t s t ictims t c t a b mt

49 See:JusticeunderSiege:AreportontheruleoflawinPoland,November2007;andPakistan:thestruggletomaintainaninde-

t jicia: a t t attmt t m t Ci Jstic, J 2007, bt at .ibat./hma_rits_Istitt/

hrI_pbicatis/Ct_ts.asx (ast accss 22 Jaa 2009).

50 Prasad, supra 6.


24/118


t tms t Bi a tat t isis stitti iscit at.

2.5 i t c i dcmb 2006, t IBAhrI icas its miti t sitati

i iji, a as cc b ts i a 2007, ici ts tats a

sica attacs aaist as a js a t sssi Ci Jstic dai atiai.

T IBAhrI cat i t ab it t isit iji, a iicat its itst i cai t a

isit t t lS.

Proposed February 2008 visit to Fiji

2.6 o 28 nmb 2007, t IBAhrI ci a tt m t-psit t lS, M Isi

a, cm t s isit b t IBAhrI t aat t sitati a stat tat t

lS b ab t ci t ati a tim at 15 Jaa 2008.

2.7 i its cit tis tt, t IBAhrI cst it its i ats a

iti t 1822 ba 2008 as aiat t isit. T IBAhrI tim

t missi t basis t aist aaiabiit a its i ats.At t tim tis as sc, t IBAhrI as ti aa t ct ats

ais cass i iji.

2.8 As at a sis tts t i mt cias, js a as, 14 Jaa

2008, Ma eis, t excti dict t IBA, t t t itim Att-ga iji,

AiyazSayed-Khaiyum,toinvitehimtomeetwiththeIBAHRIdelegationduringitsproposedvisit.

Tis tt is at Attacmt B. As is it m t attac tt, mti as ma m

t IBAhrI ati mt, i it stat a ccsis abt t sitati i iji.

2.9 o 14 Jaa 2008, t psit iji t t M eis t is ocia Scta, stati

tat i aciat t iitiati, cficti cmmitmts t im m mti

it t ati. o 24 Jaa 2008, Acti Ci Jstic gats t t M eis ai

t mt it t ati.

2.10 o 30 Jaa 2008, t itim Att-ga ax a t t IBA, stati tat I

a bjcti t a ati t iji t xami jicia. h, t tat a

mb siicat cass b t cts i iji, ici t Qarase v Bainimarama

cas, t ai b t Tiba t ss Ci Jstic51 a t ai a

mb Cstittia cass (tis as t sci t) as as t Iqi it t

Maistac. dsit bi aa tat t IBAhrI as cmt it a aiticaa tat t ati ic i aticiats ici a Sm Ct j,

t itim Att-ga a tat t IBAhrI as bi s b atisa as t

a atica bb a itica aa. t, stat tat:

I sta tat t ast psit t iji la Scit tat IBA its t

mt it i t s isit is gaam l. y a t s t mt

das Sama (immiat ast psit), C y as t psit

i t 2000 cisis.52

2.11 Tis caim as xi, i tat t IBA as sti i t css si mtis a a

51 T Tiba is ma tit: Tiba ait sat t scti 138(3)(i) t Cstitti t rbic t iji Isas.

52 FacsimilefromAiyazSayed-Khaiyum,interimAttorney-GeneralofFiji,toMarkEllis,ExecutiveDirectoroftheIBA,30January2008.


25/118


t qst a mti it M l at tat sta. At t tim tis caim as ma, t

IBAhrI as sti tmii t ist it m it it t mt a i a

a t IBAhrI xss a itti bic tis tat it mt it

m lS psit. rat, t IBAhrIs tt t t Att-ga as scica tim

s tat t sc mai ati t icas t ii t ati bi

ab t a mta aab tim t mt it t itim Att-ga. T IBAhrI is

t aa at basis t itim Att-ga ma tis aati, bt it is

csiab cc tat sc a caim as ma it c t a b bas iab

imati. T itim Att-ga t t t ma t caim tat:

I bi t IBA is bi maiat b it a itica s i iji t

underminetheindependenceofourCourts,topressurizeourjudgestondintheir

a a maiat t mia.53

2.12 T itim Att-ga t stat tat t IBAhrI mst a its s isit bas

ts mista caims. T txt tis tt is at Attacmt C. It is assm tat titim Att-ga is i t t act tat gaam l is a mmb t IBA.

h, mmbsi t IBA s t c a ifc t actiitis

t IBAhrI, ic is a it am t IBA. T IBAhrI, ic tt 2008

as cai b Jstic rica gst a Ambassa emii Caas, is t ssctib

t t ifc iiias ti sa mtiatis, a is cc it

maitaii, mti a sti t a.

2.13 Attac t t itim Att-gas tt as a ss statmt, ic at ma

is a ass jcti t isit, ici bt t basss aatis tat t

IBAhrI as bi ct b atisa as a tat t ati t b mti

it a lS psits t ta gaam l. As it t tt, t ss statmt s

t c m m as ci tis iaccat imati. Tis statmt ca b

at Attacmt d.2.14 o t sam a, M eis t aai t t itim Att-ga t s t ts

aatis a t attmt t cti t misimati bi xss. M eis t tat:

T s isit is t assss t ic t jicia, t t imi

tat ic i a a t ifc ss. I aiti, i t

s jicia ic, t IBA as a stict ic t cmmti casstat a b t cts.54

2.15 t, M eis stat:

I masis tat t IBA ss t st a baac i t sitatis i-ct a

s t imit its cmmatis t mts, bt xts tm t ba assciatis

a t stas as aiat. T i- ats i i t missi a

xts i ti , a a t ssctib t maiati ifc b a s

iiias i iji.55

53 Ibid.

54LetterfromMarkEllis,ExecutiveDirectoroftheIBA,toAiyazSayed-Khaiyum,interimAttorney-GeneralofFiji,30January2008.

55 Ibid.


26/118


2.16 M eis iicat tat mtis sti bi aa, bt tat a sstis

sti cm t mtis. h as cm tat t t timi isit as

tmi s t basis t aist at c aa t isit t iji, a t

ibat tim t cici it a atica ai. h, i ss t t itim

Att-gas istcti t a t isit, M eis stat:

As a it aisati, t IBA s t cst it mts as t t

timi its isits, at st mts t mt it atis s

a sm stai t sitati ca b attai.56

T txt tis tt is at Attacmt e.

2.17 A t as ci 3 ba 2008, ic is at Attacmt . dsit t

assacs a xaatis i b M eis, tis tt at t itim Att-

gas misstai tat t IBAhrI as iti t mt it gaam l,

a a tat tis imati a cm m t IBAhrI its. As t imati as

t, it as imssib t IBAhrI t iti t itim Att-ga

aa t b s cic its acit. gi tat t tt t t itim Att-ga

as scica qsti a mti it im, it is t ssib t sta is atia

caimi tat t IBAhrI as bi bias i its scti stas.

2.18 I tis tt, t itim Att-ga as as, w a t cmaiats a

mt iqi? w a t accss a at is t ca? T IBAhrI csis

it tat tat t itim Att-ga aa t b aa t isa

itatia cc abt t a a t jstic sstm i iji sic t c

i dcmb 2006 a t sssi t Ci Jstic i Jaa 2007. T itim

Att-ga cc b stati M siti is ca a a t cm i

iji at tis tim.

2.19 o 4 ba 2008, M eis t bac t t itim Att-ga, masisi aai tat:

t IBA is mti it a i a stas m t jicia, t a ssi

a t -mt cmmit, a as st ms qsts t mt

cias t IBA atis iiss t mt it a itst ss ss tat

a is is a a. T IBA s t imit its qiis t mt a jicia

ofcials;itbelievesthatallinterestedstakeholdersshouldexpresstheiropinions.

2.20 t, M eis stat tat:

aatis abt gam [sic] ls t ifc t IBA a ti

. wist t IBA ati i mt it M l, as t i i a a

it t cisi t IBA t s a ati, a a ifc its timi.

M l, as a itst at i iji, is cm t mt it t IBA ati t sa

is is. w as a mtis it t mmbs t a cmmit.

2.21 I ss t t itim Att-gas cti qstii as t t IBAhrI

ati it t mt it, M eis stat:

I t itst a a iscssis a t it t iac, I am t at ibt

56 Ibid.


27/118


t i it a ist ts t ati i mt, am I ab t s

t qis abt ic atis i iji ma a ccs abt t stats t

a. T IBA ati i a m a sctis a i ma its bjcti

aasis t sitati.

T txt tis tt is at Attacmt g..

2.22 Tt tis i, t a siicat mb ts i t iji mia

debatingwhethertheIBAHRIdelegationshouldbeallowedaccess.Forexample,theCitizens

Cstittia m (CC) xss its st t IBAhrI isit i aac t

cacati, stati tat it i t bi tat t ati it it t

Cstitti t ic t jicia. CC ci xcti c, t r

Aia yabai stat:

Ts js a xct t i jmts ict cicmstacs, a

t IBA isit s t a a a imact t qait bjctiit ti

jmtsw ca IBA t isit cii scit aisatis as , sc as

aisati CC.57

2.23 T lS as cam t i st t isit, stati tat i t mt a ti t

i, it cm t aisati.58

2.24 gaam l, t a at t ct t itim Att-gas mista caims, as

cam t i st t isit, stati tat it b a tit [t itim

Att-ga] t s t itatia cmmit tat m xssi a assmb

is ai [t IBAs] icia at is t t a. I a bms it tat.59

2.25 T iji wms Cisis Ct a t hma rits Cmmissi Samima Ai stat tatt jicia s b a ai a m, i t [itim mt] tat t

t ti t i, t t s a cm t isit.60

2.26 T iji Iis las Assciati psit Sama Mataa as xss st

t IBAs s isit t iji. I ss t t mts cisi t jct t isit,

stat t ct as ti t s a ti t ai m ti t IBA m

isiti a i st bic cc i t amiistati jstic.61

2.27 ost pim Miist laisia Qaas as citicis t mt jcti t IBAs

qst t isit iji, stati tat:

I (Sa-kaim) as ti t i, t is am i ai tm t cm

. his caim ic t jicia is a bi j. h ca t it it

t jicia t a a act-i missi t iji? h s sa is i

a a t tam t cm.62

2.28 T Sdl pat dict, pci kiiai as st t isit, stati:

57 ngo s t m it js, ijidaipst.cm, 4 ba 2008, at .jiaist.cm/s.?scti=1&jia

is=14110 (ast accss 19 Jaa 2009).

58 IBA isit s aa lS, ijit.cm, 7 ba 2008.

59 Stat IBA isit,Fiji Times Online, 9 ba 2008, aaiab i.

60 Tim it IBA isit: Ai,Fiji Times Online, 8 ba 2008, aaiab i.

61 la gs bac sta, Legal Times Online, 11 ba 2008, aaiab i.

62 Qaas sas A-g a mc,Fiji Times Online, 9 ba 2008, aaiab i.


28/118


I ti i t [a] ti t i, i t i cct actiitis i a iit a

ssia mat t t abt itc bcas i a

i a it i t jstic sstm i iji is i t a. [n] a

i a ti at b a iac t tm cai t ti tis t t xctatis

t tis ct a as stiat cs t cstitti tis

ct. [sic]63

2.29 T y ps Cc nt citicis t itim Att-gas attit t

t isit. T stat tat t caims t itim Att-ga , a

tat t mts cisi t t IBAhrI t it t isit as b staas.64

2.30 Tt tis bat, t itim Att-ga cti t ma ais aatis

aaist t IBAhrI, ici:

T as a ta tis siti is bcas t a mb matts b

ais tibas, ici cstittia cass i t hi Ct a t Ct

Aa, t ss Ci Jstics Tiba, t itiati b t ss Ci

Jstic i ati t t Tiba, t iji la Scit ca t Jicia Sics

Cmmissi a t Maistats iqi ic i a b jic b a tsi isit.

T is a a tat t xamiati IBA a t b at tis it i tim i

tsass it aas ic a scica b t cts a ic ict it it

t ic ts cts.65

a:

(I) batat tms t sc t IBA cct as it is t atisa as

i ai jic ts js ai t cass a i mi tiic.66

h, t itim Att-ga i iicat tat t IBAhrI ma b cm at t

ccsi ts cass:

T it is tm t a ta t tm a a i tm ti

is, t cat cm ts itiati b t cts, i atica t

ss tat t b tai t a taists i t itiati, s at sai t

tm is i tm t b ab ca t a t a it istiati,

t t cm a tis itiati is a it.

67

2.31 T hma rits Cmmissi, d Saista Samm, cmmt t t ss abt t

isit, at i t s t a mb IBAhrI qsts t c a mti.

Ts cmmts c ts t itim Att-ga:

As I bi a mb t ai acats a aaist t itim gmts a

63 Sdl citiciss Att ga IBA isit, raiiji.cm, 4 ba 2008, aaiab i.

64 ypCn qstis itim Att-ga, iji.ia.cm, 31 Jaa 2008, at .jiia.cm/?m=acist&i=310108a4

73039b651430962 (ast accss 19 Jaa 2009).

65 iji gmt cms tsi isit,Fiji Democracy Now, 30 Jaa 2008, aaiab i.

66 PressStatementbyAttorney-General,AiyazSayed-Khaiyum,FijiGovernmentOnline,31January2008,atwww.ji.gov.fj/publish/

a_11097.stm (ast accss 19 Jaa 2009).

67 iji ss t a ba assciati isit, ABC rai Astaia, 4 ba 2008, at .abc.t.a/a/tm/2154124.tm (ast accss

19 Jaa 2009).


29/118


a a ma its aa as as aaist t psits maat bii

a -acia ii ati a mmbs ctai cmmitts t IBA. Tis mas

m fct t t ic t IBA as a aisati a as t

t IBA is mai tis isit itica at ta i ma its ass.68

2.32 A as at, d Samm ac tat a ac at t ma isits b

aisatis ti t b it a I a a imit tim at m issa t

at i-im ta-st.69

2.33 i sa ts tat t ati mit b ba, t hma rits

Cmmissi stat tat t IBAhrI b a it iji, bt tat t mt

t at tm a aic. dsit m cmmts, s stat:

I as ci a tt m t IBA bt I a t tm tat I i csi ti qst,

as I t ti tat t is mc tat t i b ab t ci m si bt I

at sai t tm I i csi it t.70

2.34 dsit t itim Att-gas sa t ac t IBAhrIs ittis a

ic, t IBAhrI m a it its aamts as a, xcti tat

t itim Att-ga t mt it t ati, bt ct t bi

i t it t ct. o 16 ba, icia Jst, t IBAhrI pamm

la as maai t missi, ai i iji. wist t a, t IBA c

isc a st-71 a b iss aaist t ati m t sc stat

t missi 18 ba a ci t cac t missi b t t ati

mmbs t ti m ctis. w Ms Jst a i iji, Immiati cias i

a t bt s f t t Bisba at tat a.72

2.35 ijis cisi t ba t ati m iji mt itatia cmati.

utat, , immiat i t cacati t isit, s stis

i iji a tt t tat Ms Jst a b tai a t,

as s a cs t ta t Bisba b t st cam it ct.73 T

IBAhrI is aa t sc tis misimati. h, i ss t citicisms

t iaccat ts, t itim Att-ga is t t a cm t

tti a tati, a t a stat tat t is a ii a t a it.74 T

IBAhrI as as t t itim Att-ga cm tti a

tati, it i act t ac.2.36 I ss t t cisi t ba t IBAhrI, t lS st a aic it t itim

pim Miist a ca t mt t ti its cisi.75

68 Samm cc abt IBA isit,Fiji Times Online, 1 ba 2008, at .jitims.cm.j/st.asx?i=80174 (ast accss 19

Jaa 2009).

69 Saista aiss cc,Fiji Times Online, 3 ba 2008, aaiab i.

70 gmt aic IBA, iji Bacasti Cati, 11 ba 2008.

71 St aia IBA ati, ijiTv.cm, 15 ba 2008, at: tt://jit.cm.j/ix.cm?si=mai.scs&cm=

mi&cbi=8488&i=satia&ci=8487, ast accss 19 Jaa 2009.

72 St aia IBA ati, ijiTv.cm, 15 ba 2008, at tt://jit.cm.j/ix.cm?si=mai.scs&cm=m

i&cbi=8488&i=satia&ci=8487 (ast accss 19 Jaa 2009).

73 Bitis a t m iji, BBC ns,18 ba 2008, at tt://s.bbc.c./2/i/_s/7249493.stm (ast accss

19 Jaa 2009).

74 et is pii,Fiji Times Online, 18 ba 2008, aaiab i.

75 la Scit ss aic it pM, iji Bacasti Cati limit, 17 ba 2008.


30/118


2.37 T pim Miist n Zaa h Ca citicis t ba, ssti tat it ic

t ssitiit t itim mt tas its ma its c. S stat: T

IBA mc sta i t a a cstittis a s iiia

its a ibtis, s I ti ca a qit a t it t sa t a tm isit iji. 76

2.38 I ss t t ba, Astaia i Miist St Smit stat:

T cisi t ba a isit b a i- ati m t Itatia Ba

Assciati is t ic tat t ic t jicia a a

sstm i iji is sis ss. I c-iati it t mmbs t

itatia cmmit, ici t pacic Isas m, Astaia ctis t

t im t t iji t mcac a t a.77

2.39 o 20 ba 2008, t psit lAwASIA, M w kai Ma, t t t itim

Att-ga citicisi is cisi t ba t t t IBAhrI ati. h t:

w sis t a tis [st ], scia i xic t a missi i Mac 2007. lAwASIA as at tat tim imss b t act

tat, at is i iji a i, its missi as t cm it t

ct, bt as as ti t mt it ma ast ii is

w bi tat t IBA is a it b a tat, it its xic

tai missis tis st, it is -ac t i a im, bias a

-csi t.78

2.40 T Cmmat hma rits Iitiati stat:

T itim gmts at ms t sss m sc, t

ic t jicia a i aii t mt t a, a st

t cti ati ma its iti iji. wit t ic t

jicia is a mt i t a, t s t IBAs isit as t assss

tis ic i iji, i t absc cst, qstis a atmatica ais

as t t Itim gmts cmmitmt t mcac a ac. I t

, t ct cisi, iitab is ijias t tit t a a

iscssi a bjcti bac isss tat a ca cc bt t ct

a t itatia cmmit.79

2.41 Simia, ba assciatis tt t i cm t m. T psit tAstaia Ba Assciati, M Tm Batst QC, stat:

T IBA as a s tati its stabis i st t

ic t jicia a t it as t actis ti ssi itt

itc A it jicia is a tat stas bt t Stat a t

iiia a i t itsts t ijia , t ijia gmt is st

76 ijis IBA ba ss gmt i abt ma its c nZ pim Miist, rai n Zaa Itatia, 17

February2008,atwww.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38092(lastaccessed11January2009).

77 iji cs bac ma its ati, The Australian, 22 ba 2008, at .tastaia.s.cm.a/st-

/0,25197,23253856-17044,00.tm (ast accss 7 Jaa 2009).

78 Ma w kai, lAwASIAs tt t t Att ga iji, T Maasia Ba, at .maasiaba..m/tts_ts/

aasia_s_tt_t_t_att_a__ji.tm (ast accss 6 Jaa 2009).

79 iji at 29-02-08, Cmmat hma rits Iitiati, 29 ba 2008.


31/118


t s its cisi a a t IBA isit t aa as s.80

2.42 T Iia Ba Assciati s t st, stati tat:

iji gmts tsis abt ai t t r la a b xs b its

ct batat a acia st imsi a ba t isit t IBAs ati t

iji. T Ba Assciati Iia cms tis mcatic, ictatia a sticact a cas t gmt iji t ita t ba.81

2.43 T psit t Maasia Ba, dat Ambia Sasa, iti t cisi as a

miss tit t mt t s tat t a ti t i. S stat I am

ct tat t IBA i b ssia a ta i its bsatis as t a i

xic i tai missis tis st.82

2.44 T n Zaa la Scit as xss its cc, it its psit M J Masa

QC, i assistac t t lS i qi.83

An apparent change in position

2.45 I at Mac 2008, t ijia gmt aa t b ti its siti. T

i Aais Miist, rat ei naiatia, stat, I am s, i t aiatss

timi, t IBA i b mst cm t isit iji t ta ti assssmts.84 T

16 Ma 2008, The Australiansa t tat t itim Att-ga a

stat tat t tim tt a isit b t IBA.85 h as t as stati

tat I ti tat t timi is tt wat as a is tat t tiba

cis i sct t ss ci jstic as [sic] b t .86

Proposed December 2008 visit to Fiji

2.46 i t as t cisi i t Qarase v Bainimaramacas, t aat sssi

t miscct cis aaist t m Ci Jstic atiai, a i it

t t cmmts ma b t itim Att-ga i Ma 2008, t IBAhrI

sc its isit m 812 dcmb 2008.

2.47 I t itsts btaii as ma iits as ssib, t IBAhrI aai t 6

nmb 2008 t t itim Att-ga t qst im t mt it t ati

i its sc isit. Tis tt is at Attacmt h.

2.48 o 24 nmb 2008, t itim Att-ga t bac stati tat t gmt

iji s t cm a tis s iata isit b t IBA a acci

80 T Astaia Ba Assciati cms ijia gmts cisi t ba Itatia Ba Assciati visit, Astaia Ba

Assciati, 18 ba 2008, at .astba.as.a/ix.?ti=cm_ctt&tas=i&i=39&Itmi=46 (ast accss 19

Jaa 2009).

81 rsti ass b t excti Cmmitt t Ba Assciati Iia, 20 ba 2008.

82 r Ta ba m ti iji, Maasia Ba Cci, 17 ba 2008.

83 IBA isit t iji st i its tacs, n Zaa la Scit, LawTalk,Issue703,atwww.lawsociety.org.nz/publications_and_submis-

sis/ata/2008_atics/3_mac/iba_isit_t_ji_st_i_tacs (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).

84 w A o Tac iji i Aais Miist, Scoop,25March2008,atwww.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00210.htm(lastac-

css 6 Jaa 2009).

85 Cis Mitt, iji ts isit b t Itatia Ba Assciati, The Australian, 16 Ma 2008, at .tastaia.s.cm.

a/st/0,25197,23705247-17044,00.tm (ast accss 6 Jaa 2009).

86 Ibid.


32/118


aiat sts i b ta. Tis tat ma as it as aaist a ati ici a

Qsa Sm Ct J a a ai Maasia a sc bt t IBA a

t itatia a cmmit m ba. T txt tis tt is at Attacmt I.

2.49 I ss t tis tt, 25 nmb 2008 t IBAhrI as a ss statmt (at

Attacmt J), cmi t tats ma aaist t i ati. Tis ss

statmt stat:

T IBA is isait tat t ijia gmt is t sti it

is t a a ic t jicia. T IBA is as tb b

tis atst attmt t tat t ts a -itica ssia assciati t assss

t sitati T IBA is t t, , i cai t its i. usi t

as aaiab, t IBA i cti its t i a it assssmt

t a a ic t jicia i iji. A t i b iss i t

a t. T IBA ts tat t iji gmt i t mt it t ati t

st its is t a i iji.87

Ma eis stat:

T ijia gmt as aai iicat its ac st a it i

t sitati i iji. T tats ma b t Att-ga aaist t ati a

acctab i a a mcatic scit a fct ba t stat aais i iji.88

T psit t IBA, a pmb, cmmt:

T sc isit a attact t st a ait stas ici

js, as a -mt aisatis. It is sai t s tat t

ijia gmt iss t t tis isit m tai ac i it t ma i

ic it as b cm b t st t cmmit.89

2.50 o t sam a, t IBAhrI t bac t t itim Att-ga ati t

ma assacs tat a aa b ma. M eis itat tat, as a aa b

xai, t IBAhrI is it, a c it s t cst it mts as t

t timi its isits. h stat: It is ttab tat, sit ts t s is,

a s t mt it t ati a a acti ii its attmts t mt

it t stas. h t stat:

T IBA as sc ms mtis it t jicia, as a -mt aisatis bas i iji i aati tis isit. A ts

stas a sti t atis isit. Ts, it is cc tat

a ci t s t isit

As ac i ct ss statmt, t IBA i cct its i iji mt,

a i s a is i aci its bjcti a bias assssmt t sitati. A

ss isi t sbmit ti is t sitati i iji i b cm t s.90

87 IBA cms iji gmts tat aaist i- ati, IBA pss Statmt, nmb 2008.

88 Ibid.

89 Ibid.

90LetterfromMarkEllis,ExecutiveDirectoroftheIBAtoAiyazSayed-Khaiyum,interimAttorney-GeneralofFiji,25November2008.


33/118


T txt tis tt is at Attacmt k.

2.51 dsit t txt is tt, t itim Att-ga i mai tats aaist t

i- ati91 a t citicis t IBA:

I ast tati. I I a st a c ti tt t

csci it as. M tt it as t tati T is scisit tis as bias a I sai tat t tm.92

2.52 h itat t aatis a ma i a 2008 i ic caim tat t IBA as

jic. Tis as sit ts caims bi ss a ai b s t i

b t IBA i a mb tts. h sai t mt t t t IBA stati t a

t xai m ti is sc isit t jic siti tat t t

b t t ti istiatis, tb cmmisi ti ic.93

2.53 usi simia tms t ts s i ba 2008, t itim Att-ga t ais

t im tat t IBAhrI b a it t ct i t t: At tis sta

t t cm bt t cm at a at sta.94 h, i t sitati i

ba iti taib ts at ic t IBAhrI c t t iji, t

itim Att-ga ai t iti a scic ass t timi tis isit as

csi t b iaiat. h caim (as, as is csi t b), tat t

a aa b t it is t jicia, a t:

Acci at a sai is tats at t mmt a ca a m at

a at at i t t, bt at t tim bi t bcas t a t matts

t at t mmt.95

2.54 T itim Att-ga isist tat ctai tcs, ici t qimt

t b ca b t mt, cssa sc isits.96 ga, , -

mta aisatis t cst it mts t timi aamts

ti isits. T IBAhrI as t ii t a its isit t b ct b t itim Att-

ga t miita im m ba. Tis as atica cc t t IBAhrI

i tat t itim Att-ga a istct t IBAhrI t cas cmmicatis

it ctai as iti iji.97 As a b at ms tims tt t IBAs

tts a ss statmts, t IBAhrI s t imit its mtis i a a a as

t mti it a stas abt t sitati.

2.55 T itim Att-ga it t t lAwASIA a eu missis as ic tat

as t bci t IBAhrI ati.98 h, i t t tat lAwASIA a isit

amst t as is, tat t eu is ijis ast xta ai i.

2.56 T sc cacati t IBAhrI isit a citicism bt iti iji a aba. lS

91 IBA at t cm i qst: Ag, iji Bacasti C-ati, 27 nmb 2008.

92 iji accs tats t jicia i, supra 43.

93 kaim cais IBA iss,Fiji Daily Post, 27 nmb 2008, at .jiaist.cm/it.?t=s&ix=20496 (ast ac-

css 19 Jaa 2009).

94 Ag as i iti t t IBA, iji Bacasti Cati limit, 26 nmb 2008.

95 Ibid.

96 IBA at t cm i qst: Ag, supra 91.

97 lt IBA tam i: CC,Fiji Times Online, 27 nmb 2008, at .jitims.cm/st.asx?i=107407 (ast accss 19 Jaa 2009).

98 Ibid.


34/118


psit dsami nai stat tat t itim ims jcti t IBAhrIs isit ma t

mt aa isst.99 h sai: Tis im is aas tai abt tis bi a a

t jicia bi it, tc a ss t itim gmt as smti t i I

cat s a t as sti ts m cmi i.100 h t stat:

T lS is a cc tat t bai t imi isit b tis it,i itatia ati ic cmiss si js a jists s

t a t atis cti a i, t itatia cmmit,

t acta stat t a i tis ct T lS is as a cc i

tats i ma b t Ag, i tat ta aiat mass s

t IBA ats attmt a isit aa as tis ca ss tat t itim im i

t a t t st stif t ics as.101

T aa t ti tis ct it as mis assssi

it t stat t a a ic t jicia It is abt

tim t IAg a t itim im t stc t a tai tis ct.102

It aas tat t mt t t itim Att-ga is t st i its

ais abt tai tis ct bac t mcac ia ctis.103

2.57 T CC as ca t itim im t a t IBA t isit t ct i t

sc cacati a IBA isit. T CCs xcti ict, r Aia yabai, stat:

At a tim t itim gmt as cm a ca assistac

m t un a t Cmmat t it t itica ia, CC is a

concernedthattheinterimAttorney-General,AiyazSayed-Khaiyum,hasreportedly

cac a sc sc isit t IBA 2008 T 2006 Baa picis

Jicia Cct cis tat bic cc i t jicia sstm a i t

ma atit a i t itit t jicia is t tmst imtac i a

m mcatic scit a tat t amiistati jstic is sstia t t

tcti a ma its. T IBA ati c i cstcti bac

cti as t ass t isss st t i t Baa picis Jicia Cct.

T Itim Att-ga as ctis maitai tat t iji Jicia is

it a imatia. Ai t IBA ati t isit iji mstat

tat t Itim gmt is cmmitt t imi t itit a mtibic cc i t cts.

It as a a isss ai a m, t a a ic

t jicia t b ic i t aa t itica m. Caci

sti t IBA isit s t assist i mi iji a.104

99 iji bas ati itatia jists, ABC rai Astaia, 26 nmb 2008, at .aiastaia.t.a/s/st-

is/200811/s2430503.tm?tab=acic (ast accss 19 Jaa 2009).

100 Ibid.

101 la Scit isait b IBA cisi, T Maasia Ba, 27 nmb 2008, at .maasiaba..m/a/a_s/

a_scit_isait_b_iba_cisi.tm (ast accss 19 Jaa 2009).

102 IBA ba aiss qis, The Fiji Times Online, 28 nmb 2008, at .jitims.cm/st.asx?i=107438 (ast accss 19 Jaa 2009).

103 la Scit isait b IBA cisi, supra 101.

104 lt IBA tam i: CC, supra 97.


35/118


2.58 la gaam l scib t ba as isaiti bt t sisi. h is t

as stati:

wat s t itim Att-ga a t a m t scti si js

a as m t IBA? It is a ist t t itic t IBA ati

bcas t ims ba imis tat ts xts cat ma ti itassssmts iji t a a t jicia Its a at it tat a

tit t iji js tmss t a mt t IBA a ma ti

is t sitati as b st y a t as a i a

cib a xts as b st t c, bt tic, m isiti ss

I ti im bss iji t a as bi tis atst attmt at

aii scti b t im.105

2.59 T n Zaa gmt as xss its cc at t bai t IBAhrIs

sc isit. At t tim, i Aais Miist Ma McC sai ijis itim

mt csi its siti.106

2.60 At iss cc t t IBAhrI is t ss ctai mmbs ijis jicia

t t cacati t sc IBAhrI isit. dsit t amt t Acti Ci

Jstic gats t aa a mti it t hi Ct js a t amt m

Jstic B (a it im, Jstic hici) t mt it t ati, c t itim

Att-ga ac is cisi t t t ati m isiti t ct,

bt js ai t s t mais m t IBAhrI qsti it a tcc

i i t a mti tim, cmati tat t si t mt it

t ati. Tis ai t s as istbi, a as i sta ctast t t

js mt is i t t itim Att-gas acmt. wi aitia

- mais mai as, Acti Ci Jstic gats cmmts at t 10t

Att-gas Cc, i dcmb 2008, aa t at t t IBAhrI isit:

T c is a a ss stct ta t ct cis ic

js a cm t i ti cass T c is caactis b iti

accss, iscs matia, m, ssi, a -st ctis ic as

t ct mc i a sic iqi a m tia. A t is t

iss o ats t b -mi a a bt ma m iqiis s b

sbmitt t b t bcm ssi a c b scib as atisi?

107

2.61 Ts cmmts i siicat m is ai amt t mt it t ati, a

a isaiti amiia cs t itim Att-gas iaccat aatis.

2.62 T mt tis t as aa b iscss at aaas 1.6-1.9.I aiti,

t imtac ctis, atica as it ats t t ic t jicia, is

csi at i tis t at aaas 3.121 3.159. rass ts accsatis, it is

105 IBA st it t ia, The Fiji Times Online, 27 nmb 2008, at .jitims.cm/st.asx?i=107336 (ast accss 19

Jaa 2009).

106NZconcernedwithIBAsentryban,EINNEWS.com,27November2008;ConcernatFijismovetoblockbarassociation,Newstalk

ZB,27November2008,atwww.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=148621(lastaccessed19January2009);NZhopesFijiwill

csi IBA cisi,ijii, 27November2008;NZconcernedwithIBAsentryban,The Fiji Times Online, 27 nmb 2008.

107 iji Jicia sis, oc t Att-ga, pss as, 28 nmb 2008, aaiab at: tt://.ji..j/bis/

it_13608.stm, ast accss 19 Jaa 2009.


36/118


cc t t IBAhrI tat t js ai t i t t IBAhrI a ss ass

ti cisi t t sa it t ati i t cacati t missi. I

sc cicmstacs, t aa t a b ifc b t itim Att-ga. I

sc ifc as xt, it is isaiti tat t js s t s t mais t

cai t ass ti iiss t ca t t i-a itis b t.

Previous independent reviews

2.63 i t cacati t IBAhrIs sc s missi, t itim Att-

ga as qt i as caimi tat t it is ijis jicia a

aa ta ac, ic a xcti itc i t jicia.108

xam, t itim Att-ga as stat:

w aa a t ts t jicia, as t i emit pss

, t a lAwAISA a t t ea g tat cam i a a

a itc it t jicia b t xcti.109

2.64 Tis statmt is sim icct. It as t it cc tat t IBAhrI t

tat at ast t js (t Acti Ci Jstic gats a Jstic hici) a b qt as

ati ts aacis caims.110 Ts statmts a b s b t itim im a t

jicia t st t caim tat t IBAhrIs i is cssa, atisi a/ a ast

jicia scs. T istat tis i tai, ac isit i b csi saat.

Forum Eminent Persons Group Report Fiji

29 Jaa1 ba 20072.65 T emit pss g (epg) as stabis b a mti pacic Isas m

i Aais Miists 1 dcmb 2006, t isit iji t mt a t at atis t t

imass, a t ma cmmatis a a a.111

2.66 Tis as at it m tai tms c, ic :

t assss t i cass a t at t t t gmt iji

bytheRFMF;

t assss t scts aiat sti t st sitati i iji i t

shortandmediumterm,andobstaclestosucharesolution;

t iti sts tat t atis i iji ma ta t m sit a ac ta t

stati mcatic mt, iti t bais ijis Cstitti a t

ruleoflaw;

108 kaim cais IBA iss, supran93;LetIBAteamin:CCF,supran97;IBAwantedtocomeinunrequested:AG,supran91;for

xam, t itim Att-gas cmmts i is iti it ABC rai st Bc hi, at 27 nmb 2008, at

www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200811/s2431581.htm(lastaccessed20December2008);andibid.

109 Ag as iti t IBA, rai iji, 26 nmb 2008, at .aiji.cm.j/ji2/st.?i=16134 (ast accss 19 Ja-

a 2009).

110 Acti Ci Jstic gats s: iji Jicia Sis, supran107;forJusticeHickiesee:Judgeswhingeoverlackofinvites,Fiji

Times Online, 11 dcmb 2008, at .jitims.cm/st.asx?i=108582 (ast accss 9 Jaa 2009).

111 rt: iji, m emit pss g, 29 Jaa 1 ba 2007, at .msc./_scs/atic/s/IJI%20

epg%20reporT,%2029%20Ja%20t%201%20b%2020071. (ast accss 11 Jaa 2009).


37/118


t csi t t m a its mmbs mit mst s a i assisti iji

aci tis tcm.112

2.67 As is it m a csiati ts tms c, mti is ma t

jicia a itti ccti a i i it t jicia. I,

t ist ss t b mt b t ati s t ic t jicia.

2.68 h, i its is t epg s mti t jicia:

T epg a t i tat t Jicia, t pic, gmt datmts a t

hma rits Cmmissi a b cmmis sic t ts 5 dcmb. T

cicmstacs si t stai asi Ci Jstic atiai, t aitmt

Jstic gats as Acti Ci Jstic, a t sssi t Ci Maistat a a

b qsti. T epg stas tat i t itim gmt bis tat

css as i t aitmt Jstic gats a t sssi Ci Jstic

atiai, it is t a i sa b ma i t iji a cmmit. T epg as t tat t

Jicia as bcm iticis a as ais tat t Ct Aa a t Sm

Ct ma ct a atia cisis b mi a as s js ma t s -

aitmt s t sit i tst aaist t ts 5 dcmb a sic

T epg ciss tat a a a cstittia sti t ct itica

sitati i qi a it a tait Jicia. T epg t tat t i

iti t cmmit tat t Jicia, mt atmts a t istittis

mt a b cmmis. Specically, there is serious concern that due constitutional

process was not ollowed in the suspension o Chie Justice Fatiaki and the appointment o Justice Gates as

Acting Chie Justice. The EPG noted that there is a considerable danger that the Judiciary will not be ableto carry out its Constitutional role.T epg as ais tat at sm it, iji mit ts itatia assistac t st cc t t jicia sstm.

The continuing independent unctioning o the Judiciary has been compromised by the process and

manner in which the Chie Justice was requested to take leave and then suspended and an Acting Chie

Justice appointed.113[masis a]

2.69 I its cmmatis, t epg stat tat:

T itim im (rM) s immiat cas a itc it t Jicia

a acctab istittis, t Ci Jstic s b istat t c.114

2.70 T, at it as t iia at t epgs maat, its ccs abt

t xcti itc i t jicia as a as Jaa 2007 scit t

cas it t xss cc a mb tims tt its st t, a t ma a

cmmati cai t itim im t istat Ci Jstic atiai a t cas

iti i t jicia.

2.71 Cta t t caims ma b t itim Att-ga, Acti Ci Jstic gats a

Jstic hici tat it i a itc, tis i tat t

112 Ibid.

113 Ibid.

114 Ibid.


38/118


as itc i t jicia, a tat t sitati as sis cc.

The LAWASIA observer mission

2528 Mac 2007

2.72 ui t epg missi, lAwASIAs 3-a missi as ict it t ic a i t a a t ic t jicia. T st smma i t

ati as as s:

t a i iji ma b cmmis b t i ctait as t t stats a

t ss Ci Jstic atiai a b t i bic cti, it

, tat t jicia is iticis a ii.115

2.73 t, t t cmm tat a it qi b stabis t xami t

ti jicia a t ma cmmatis as t a ct sctiait ca bst

b ass.116

2.74 ui epg, lAwASIA s t st t amts abt t xistc t

xcti itc i t jicia itt ai ccsis. Its t t cat

b cit as ic tat xcti itc xists. rat, t ca a i

iicats t ii tat lAwASIA as cc abt t bms iti iti t

jicia a as ab t cct a i iti its st isit.117

The European Union mission

28 nmb1 dcmb 2008

2.75 dsit t mb tims i ic t eu t as b cit b t itim Att-

ga a t t js, t t as t b ma bic. Simia t t epg t,

t eu missi as t it t i t ic t jicia, bt t assss

t ss tas ctis. T bic statmts ma s a b t eu sst tat ti

is t aab.

2.76 xam, t eu ati as b t as cmi a tats stictis

tati iiias aisatis si t xcis ti it t m xssi

a stat tat it c t cm tat cib a tim aatis ctis a

a, ic is a citi t eus smti acia st.118

2.77 T IBAhrI is ab t sta sc statmts c b itt as iicati a

i tat t iji jicia is m xcti itc.

2.78 It s b t tat, i aiti t t IBAhrIs attmts, t uit natis Scia

rat t Ic Js a las as as b t m isiti

iji, sit attmti t s m J 2007.119

115 rt isit t iji b lAwASIA obs Missi, sa 7.

116 Ibid.

117 Ibid.

118 ea ui isait b iji isit, pacic Isas dmt pam/eastwst Ct, pacic Isas rt, 2 dcm-

ber2008;EUwantsFijitoholdelectionsin2009,The Age, 2 dcmb 2008, at tt://s.ta.cm.a//-ats-ji-t-

hold-elections-in-2009-20081202-6poz.html(lastaccessed30December2008).

119 Cm b -mai m t Scia rat t Ic Js a las Assistat t icia Jst, IBAhrI

pamm la, 27 nmb 2008.


39/118


Chapter 3: The independence o

the judiciary

Background

T is st bic iisi bt t js t hi Ct iji, a

siti ic s bac at ast t t ts assciat it t c attmt

Ma 2000. Tis iisi as b xss bt jicia a x-jicia.120

3.1 T ccs stas ais it t ati ai t ct stat tjicia ca b st i t ctxt a -stai ist bt mmbs

t bc. T lAwASIA missi t iji i 2007 tat t a mb si

js [] tmss t sti a bic cmt is abt t

js, it aatis a ct aatis iaiat bai.121

3.2 T sit i t jicia ca b tac bac t aatis tat i t 2000 c, t t

Ci Jstic Tiaa a Jstics atiai a Mica Sctt assist t miita, atica

i t sta cisis, b ii t psit it a aic tat st t

abati t 1997 a t abiti t Sm Ct.122 Jstic atiai as i

ii a assistac t t miita im.123 Ci Jstic Tiaa as as t i i

t ati a at c t miita im at t amiistati jstic. Ci

Jstic Tiaas actis ai citicis, a t aatis tat t t js assist

t miita mt t sis iisis iti ijis jicia.

3.3 T ati as t t as a ss tat at tis tim Jstic atiai a act i a

a tat as icsistt it is as j. o mit a, rica nai, as

cmmt tat:

It aa tat, iti a as Sits bi, t a ii it

at I sa ca t amatists, b t Ci Jstic, Si Timci Tiaa, aici Jstics Mica Sctt a dai atiai. o t t si a mb

cstittiaists, m Jstic At gats as bcm t mst -.124

3.4 T ii is at istat b Jstic atiais cisi iCCF v President,125 ic at it

isss ati t t 2000 c. Jstic atiai as as b t aicat i tis cas t xcs

120 Jams Ca, r: Jicia Sics Cmmissi iji rcmmati Aitmt Acti Ci Jstic, Matix Cam-

bs, 20 ba 2007, 2.

121 rt isit t iji b lAwASIA obs Missi, supra 7.

122FijinamesnewChiefJustice,RadioNewZealandInternational,24July2002,atwww.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=1293,

ast accss 30 octb 2008.

123 rt isit t iji b lAwASIA obs Missi, supra 7, 8.

124 rt isit t iji b lAwASIA obs Missi, supra 7, 18.

125 Citizens Constitutional Forum v President[2001] JhC 28.


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ims t basis bias, as (am t s) Jstic atiai a assist t miita

i t c. Am aaits t t st t aati bias aaits

swornbyJusticesByrneandNazhatShameem.Theafdavitssetoutaseriesofmeetings

bt t js i t cisis, a ss as as at a a aic

a t psit as iscss.

3.5 Jstic atiai i t xcs ims m ai t cas, bt i t

assimt t at j, iti tat:

Sc it t sa tat t cms attmt b m cas t mi m i tis st

aicati a t a I sst as m abt tm tat it s t m. It

as sas ms t imt i ic I a t atisis tat xists

bt t js tis Ct. Ts a caactis b a absc ciait,

bac-biti, , i-aas, cis a isat. B cmais, hamts

dma is a ia cam.126

3.6 T ati as im tat at tis it, t jicia as ais, a,

js sc as Jstics atiai a Sctt, a t t, js ici Jstics gats,

B a Samm, st stict cmiac it t Cstitti a s a

imt t jicia i ac aamts i t atmat t 2000 c.

T as t a mb js t assciat it it acti.

3.7 i Ci Jstic Tiaas timt, js m bt s st t

a xss a itst i t Ci Jstic acac. Jstic atiai as ait t tis

acci t stabis c t Cstitti. T ati as t tat

i is tm as Ci Jstic, Jstic atiai i t ta acti t a t bac iti t

jicia, ista maiaisi Jstics gats a Samm. At t sam tim, Jstic Sctt

as mt t t Ct Aa. T ati as im tat, i t bi tat

ts js a act i bac t Cstitti, tis as atica ai t t

js t bc a t Cstitti. It as as xacbat b t ts,

xam, t ati ci ts tat i tis i t mt i t

st Jstic Samms miati t t Itatia Cimia Ct, sit isa

st miati acss t pacic. T ati a tat tis as csi t

b as tatmt a t caiat b a mt itica ass.

3.8 T IBAhrI tat t is a i i iji tat t 2006 c a t maiais iti t jicia a tit t asst miac t bc. Tis is ac

attmti t sta Jstic Samms mtiatis i ci t JSC a

aiti Jstic gats as Acti Ci Jstic (csi t at 3.22 3.38).

3.9 T sitati, ic stat i 2000, i t im. u is siati i Jaa 2008,

Jstic r Ct a t t ii:

Js a ma. T a ti is a isis i t sam a as s. Ts

mst b t asi cass a t b a a jstic i. psaitis mst a

at i jstic. o t bst ics aic I ci as t as b stati

126 Ibid.


41/118


t a cas a t t t m mi ti sa i jstic i tat cas.127

Removal o the Chie Justice

ijis jicia as ta sm a cs i 2000 a 2006. T is bt

tat as a istitti t jicia as ama a is ctii t b

as a st a sccssi itica ciss sic 1987.128

3.10 T cicmstacs si t ma Ci Jstic atiai ais a mb sis

ccs abt t ic t jicia. Ci Jstic atiai as m m is

c b statis t ct itim im a c t ta a ss.Saat m tis ma, Ci Jstic atiai as ca it a a miscct

cs, a sbjct tim t a qstiab, a isciia css ic as

a iss as at a sttmt tiati bt im a t im a

03 2009 march - ibhri - dire straits-a report on the rule of law in fiji

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