Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

EU and USA criticise emergency regulations in Fiji

Posted at 22:03 on 07 September, 2007 UTC

The European Union and the United States have both condemned the re-introduction of the Public Emergency Regulations in Fiji.

The European Union says in a statement that the reasons given by the interim government do no justify the regulations.

It says the regulations and the measures associated with it appear to breach the commitment given by Fiji to the EU in April as part of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.

The EU says it is not apparent which threats to national security, public order and safety exist to justify such a drastic measure.

The United States State Department says the re-activation of the Emergency Regulations calls into question the interim administration’s stated commitment to restore human rights, civil liberties and democratic rule.

Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says the emergency regulations are only a precautionary and temporary measure.