Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji women’s advocate says fear discouraging constitutional submissions

Posted at 03:32 on 03 September, 2012 UTC

The head of the Fiji Women’s Right’s movement says more people would be making submissions to the Constitutional Commission, if they felt that they could speak without fear.

The Commission is currently holding hearings around the country.

Virisila Buadromo says the Commission itself is independent, but decrees are still in place.

“While the State says on one hand they are willing to listen to diverse views, it is diverse views that they agree with I think is what they are willing to listen to. So i mean it is quite sad. I hope that this is not stopping other people to be able to go out and make submissions. Submissions are being made and that is great.”

Virisila Buadromo says she hopes that some of the things that have happened in Fiji recently, including her organisation not being able to run a newspaper advertisement on the process, have set off alarm bells for the Commission.