Regime Appeal Dismissed - 1997 Constitution Intact

http://www.pcgov.org.fj
PEOPLE'S COALITION GOVERNMENT, FIJI

Regime's appeal dismissed; 1997 Constitution still supreme law

Issue No: 534 1 March 2001

The Fiji Court of Appeal has dismissed the Qarase regime's appeal against the High Court decision.

Delivering its judgment minutes ago, the Court declared:

1.. That the 1997 Constitution remains the supreme law and has not been abrogated;

2.. Parliament has not been dissolved. It was only prorogued for 6 months;

3.. The Office of the President is vacant from 15 December 2000 with the Vice President performing the functions of the President until 15 March. The court award costs to the respondents - Chandrika Prasad - to the value of $50,000 plus other incidental costs like costs of copying affidavits, travel, accommodation, etc.

The regime had earlier stated that it will abide by the judgement. It has so far not commented on the decision. It is understood that it is having an emergency meeting now.

END

1 March 2001

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