By Michael Heath

Human rights in Fiji are deteriorating and civilians are living in fear because of the military regime's "draconian measures," an Amnesty International specialist said after visiting the country.

The government's emergency regulations, which include exonerating police and soldiers from responsibility for actions, even when they cause injury or death, are having a major impact, said Apolosi Bose, the London-based group's Pacific researcher.

"What is developing is a culture of extreme fear and intimidation," Bose said in a statement.

Fiji's president reappointed a military government for five years earlier this month when he declared a state of emergency and fired the judiciary, overturning a Court of Appeal ruling that declared illegal a 2006 coup. Australia said last week the Pacific nation has effectively become a military dictatorship.

In the past 10 days, the regime has censored the media, detained reporters, limited freedom of association and threatened human rights defenders and other government critics, Amnesty said.

Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, the army chief, deposed Laisenia Qarase's government in December 2006, accusing it of corruption. The coup was Fiji's fourth since 1987.

Following the court ruling, President Josefa Iloilo, an ally of Bainimarama, abrogated the constitution, reappointed Bainimarama as prime minister and said elections may not be held until 2014.



Calls rejected

Bainimarama has repeatedly rejected international calls to hold elections by the end of this year, saying he wants to change the electoral system in the ethnically divided nation. Under the present system, people in some constituencies can only vote for candidates from their ethnic community.

Bainimarama made it clear there would be no easing of media controls in the near future, telling Radio New Zealand on April 15 that free speech has "caused trouble" in the past.

Asked about each country's need to have open and free discussions, he responded: "Not in Fiji."

Amnesty said the Fiji government may also be monitoring e- mails and blogs, or online personal diaries, as part of efforts to suppress criticism.

"Except for what the military want them to hear, the people of Fiji have no access to information about what is happening in their country," said Bose, who was in Fiji when the president abrogated the constitution.

The United Nations voiced "grave concern" about the curb on press freedom in Fiji.

"Depriving people of news and information about events that affect them only breeds fear and suspicions," Koichiro Matsuura, director general of the UN's Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), said in a statement April 17.

"The basic human right of freedom of expression, which underpins press freedom, is essential for democracy, good governance and rule of law," he added.Bloomberg Online/Pacific Media Watch, 20/04/09.