Fiji | Legal Helpdesk Lawyers

ON THIS DAY in 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal (Powell, Lloyd and Douglas JJA) delivered Qarase v Bainimarama [2009] FJCA 67; [2009] 3 LRC 614 (9 April 2009).

The Court of Appeal declared that the assumption of executive power by the President/military Commander (Bainimarama) and dismissal by him of the Prime Minister (Qarase) and parliament in the coup of 5 December 2006 was unlawful under the Fijian constitution.

On 10 April, Bainimarama abrogated the constitution.

Whilst the beaches remain beautiful and the people will always be warm and friendly, a dark cloud hangs over democracy and the rule of law in Fiji.

http://www.paclii.org/fj/cases/FJCA/2009/67.html