SUVA (Pacnews) — The Public Safety Regulation in Fiji has been extended for another 30 days.
Military spokesman Maj. Neumi Leweni said the extension was implemented by the military after an assessment last Saturday. Whether it will be extended again depends on another review just before the regulation is to expire.
Last month, interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the state of emergency decree might remain for three more months if security forces thought the situation in the country warranted it.
“Under the Constitution, the state of emergency is or can be up to three months or can be extended but as you have seen, the roadblocks have been withdrawn during the day and that is an assessment, as I said last week, after discussions with the security forces, that as soon as security concerns and fears are gone, the state of emergency would be withdrawn,” said Sayed-Khaiyum.
According to the Constitution, the proclamation of a state of emergency remains in force for no longer than three months or if there is a need, it can be for six months.
The state of emergency was declared by military commander Frank Bainimarama on Dec. 5 after he assumed executive authority and ousted the elected government.
Leweni said Territorial force soldiers will remain to camp despite the military having pulled out of all checkpoints last Saturday night.
He said there are about 1,500 territorial soldiers in military camps around the country, while those TF soldiers who are also civil servants have been told to return to their respective work places.