Fiji: Threats of reprisal for using UN Special Mechanisms
February 19, 2010

Two human rights activists have been warned by the head of Fiji’s military regime against making public statements on the judiciary.
On 17 February 2010 the Fiji Sun newspaper quoted Commodore Frank Bainimarama warning Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) Executive Director Virisila Buadromo and Citizens Constitutional Forum (CCF) Director Reverend Akuila Yabaki.  The report of the warning stated that both Buadromo and Reverend Yabaki must have evidence to support any claim that the judiciary in Fiji is not independent.

http://www.fijisun.com.fj/main_page/view.asp?id=34517

The warning by the Commodore followed the submissions made by Buadromo and Yabaki on behalf of their respective organisations at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva last week.
Buadromo, a women’s human rights defender, had suffered earlier reprisals for pro-democracy activism soon after Fiji’s military coup in December 2006.  She was among a group of activists detained and assaulted by Fiji’s military on December 25, 2006.  Intimidation of human rights defenders, trade unionists and marginalised groups has continued in Fiji since the coup, including four deaths in police or military custody.  
Women human rights defenders from Fiji urge the human rights community and their governments to call on Fiji’s military regime to:

1. Protect fundamental human rights, and issue a clear public commitment that fundamental human rights will be respected, that those who exercise them will be protected and that all civil society groups are free to continue with their work.
   
   
2. Immediately revoke the Public Emergency Regulations 2009.
   
   
3. Return immediately to constitutional rule and annul decrees made since April 10, 2009, in particular the Fiji Constitution Amendment Act 1997 Revocation Decree 2009, Revocation of Judicial Appointments Decree 2009, the Administration of Justice Decree 2009 and the State Services Decree 2009.