UNITY Fiji leader Savenaca Narube has thrown his support behind a proposed constitutional ban on immunity for people involved in future coups, but warned that simply removing immunity provisions would not prevent another unconstitutional takeover.
“I fully support this,” Mr Narube said when asked about the proposed prohibition on immunity for future coup-makers.
However, he said Fiji must confront what he described as the “elephant in the room” — what happens if another coup leader seizes power and simply disregards the Constitution.
“But what happens when there is another coup and the coup leader throws away the Constitution and introduces immunity again.
“This is the elephant in the room that we have not addressed.”
The Constitutional Review Commission has recommended that people involved in future coups should not be granted legal immunity.
Mr Narube said stronger economic and social conditions were also necessary to address the underlying instability that has contributed to Fiji’s history of coups.
“My answer is that we use the economic pathway of raising wellbeing and incomes.
“There is still no guarantee but it will allow the country to transit into structural solutions to instability.”
Mr Narube also rejected the idea that the proposed Constitution adequately addresses Fiji’s history of coups.
“No it does not.”
He said constitutional safeguards must be accompanied by broader measures aimed at improving the wellbeing of Fijians.
