Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) was Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry was quashed by the military, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial advisor on 9 June 2000, and was subsequently appointed Prime Minister on July 4. He subsequently won two parliamentary elections, but was deposed in a military coup on 5 December 2006. Caption & Image Credit: WikipediaThe Real Survivor Fiji – Point-Of-Order Process Pursued
It had to happen and after nearly three full months since the head of Fiji’s military, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, faces action in the island nation’s court system.
The hope, through this point-of-order process is to highlight the illegitimacy of of the Commodore’s actions.
This from Associated Press via Zee News (India) -
Fiji military coup to face court challenge
Associated Press - Suva, Mar. 02, 2007
Fiji's governing party that was ousted in a coup three months ago launched court action today to try to have the military chief's actions ruled illegal, increasing pressure on the commander to restore democracy in the country.
The case, if successful, is unlikely to force Commodore Frank Bainimarama to give up power because he controls Fiji's security forces. But it would undermine his claim to be operating within the country's constitution.
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua Party formally applied to the high court on Friday to hear its claim that Fiji's military forces illegally removed the democratically elected government on Dec. 5 last year.
In the putsch, Bainimarama removed the government, closed the Parliament, proclaimed himself interim President and imposed sweeping emergency powers on the country. He claimed his actions were within the 1997 constitution, and that he would call elections to restore democratic rule at an undecided future date.
Acting Chief Justice Anthony Gates gave the two sides till March 28 to file detailed affidavits of evidence and defense to the court.
Gates also asked the military not to interfere with Qarase's lawyer and the courts commissioner of oaths traveling to the outlying island of Vanuabalavu to execute affidavits and have them signed by Qarase.
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