THE post-Commission of Inquiry (COI) process has descended into “chaos”, says Fiji Law Society president Wylie Clarke as he repeated calls to make the report public.
“Those persons (according to the commissioner himself, nine) criticised in the COI Report have had no access to the COI Report and its findings, so they cannot defend themselves from what it says,” he said.
“Justice Ashton-Lewis is openly suggesting that the withholding of the COI Report by the Government, including against persons affected by it, is on his own advice.
“That advice is contrary to section 16 of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji which guarantees executive and administrative justice, the right to procedural fairness, to everyone.”
He said elements of the COI Report including videos of COI witness evidence and affidavits were now appearing selectively on social media as a result of leaks to individuals who were critics of key officials.
Mr Clarke said considerable time and money – believed to run in the millions – had been spent on the COI.
“We are now beyond the point where there is any sense in keeping the COI Report from the public.
“It should be released so everyone has the same information and those criticised in it know what they are accused of and can respond.”
