Fiji interim Govt declared illegal by High Court

4:00 PM

Fiji's interim government has been declared illegal.

Justice Anthony Gates ruled in the country's High Court that the 1997 constitution remains the supreme law of the nation, and that there is no constitutional foundation for the interim government, put in place following the May 19 coup.

The Constitutional Review Commission, which is promising a new constitution by next June, has also been ruled illegal.

The ruling is expected to put pressure on the interim government, led by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, to uphold the constitution and resign.

However, it is not expected to do so.

The court decision means Fijian President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the Senate and the House of Representatives all still hold their positions.

The website FijiVillage reported that the Attorney General would appeal against the decision on behalf of the Fiji military.

The site quoted the military's Director of Legal Services, Lt Colonel Ratu Etuweni Caucau, as saying they would seek to have Justice Gates' ruling set aside while they pursued an appeal.

Lt Colonel Caucau said the ruling would "have a lot of consequences and repercussions within the military."

Today's ruling results from a writ filed by a refugee farmer, who claimed that the coup and subsequent events ruined his livelihood.

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF and AGENCIES