Former Director of Public Prosecutions Aca Rayawa has voiced urgent concerns over the current state of law and order in Fiji, urging the government to consider emergency measures to enhance police powers. In a recent online statement, Rayawa expressed that Fiji has reached a critical juncture that he terms a “Crime Control mode,” necessitating extraordinary actions to restore public safety and discipline.
He is advocating for the introduction of an Emergency Regulation under the Public Order Act, which would temporarily suspend specific protections for criminal suspects as outlined in the Bill of Rights of the 2013 Constitution. This measure, according to Rayawa, would allow police officers increased legal authority to apply force, whether lethal or otherwise, to re-establish order within the nation.
Rayawa’s proposal underscores the mounting concerns over security and public safety amid rising crime rates. He believes that such measures are essential to address the challenges currently facing law enforcement in Fiji and to reassure citizens of their safety.
Leave a comment