SUVA (Pacnews) — Two high chiefs in Fiji are seeking a judicial review of a decision by the interim government of military chief Frank Bainimarama to suspend meetings of the Great Council of Chiefs.
The high chief of Tavua, Tui Tavua Ratu Ovini Bokini, who was chairman of the council, and the high chief of the Nadroga province, Na Ka Levu Ratu Sakiusa Makutu, who was the deputy chairman, have filed court documents through their lawyers.
Interim Fijian Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau, who is the respondent in the case on behalf of the interim government, confirmed being served the summons.
“Yes, I have received the summons. I picked it up from my office,” he said. “The application is by the chairman and vice chairman for a judicial review.”
Lawyer for Ratu Ovini and Ratu Sakiusa, Savenaca Komaisavai, said they were questioning whether Ratu Epeli had the legal authority to suspend the GCC under the Fijian Affairs Board (Amendment) Regulations Act Cap 120, Section 5.
They are seeking a declaration that Ratu Epeli had “no lawful authority to review or in any way amend the Fijian Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations 1993.”
They claim Ratu Epeli’s decision to suspend the GCC was “irrational.”
Fiji’s foreign affairs minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, said the actions of the suspended Great Council of Chiefs to reject President Ratu Josefa Iloilo’s nomination for vice president was an embarrassment to the highest office on the land
On April 24, the Great Council of Chiefs turned down the nomination by Ratu Josefa of Ratu Epeli as vice president.
Ratu Epeli said nobody would deliberately embarrass the president that way.
“I’m not embarrassed,” he said.
“They have embarrassed the president. I’m like a salamander, I’ve been through fire before,” he said.
Ratu Epeli said he would concentrate on his job as an interim foreign affairs minister fulfilling the wishes of Ratu Josefa, who appointed him.
When asked if he would accept the post of vice president if named, he said he had been nominated once before.
Ratu Epeli’s is a former military commander, speaker of the House of Representatives and high commissioner to London.
The position has been vacant since Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi resigned after the Dec. 5 military takeover. Members of the Kubuna and Burebasaga confederacies rejected the nomination but the Tovata confederacy endorsed it at meeting at the Tradewinds Convention Center in Lami last month.
The Constitution’s Section 91(1) states that when the position of vice president becomes vacant, the president nominates someone who then will take over the post if the nomination is supported by the GCC.
Since the rejection of Ratu Epeli, interim Fijian Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau has sacked the Great Council of Chiefs, saying he will review the membership of the organization.