Unity Fiji Party lawyer Naomi Raikaci says the Supreme Court must declare the 2013 Constitution not legitimate and accept the 1997 Constitution although it is not determined on whether it is to be followed.
While making submission in the matter where the Cabinet has sought the opinion of the Supreme Court on the interpretation and application of the 2013 Constitution, Raikaci says the 1997 Constitution is still the supreme law while the 2013 Constitution was brought in by a group of people.
She says during the last 16 years there was a great violation of rights and people who wanted to protest the 2013 Constitution were stopped, taken to the army camp.
Raikaci says this is why, for the past 16 years, the country developed a system of remaining silent because of fear until the new government came in.
She says a group from Rakiraki where a group were finally able to march in the streets to publicly express their non-acceptance of the 2013 Constitution.
The counsel says Unity Fiji, from their voters, came up with a decision in the manifesto to challenge the validity of the 2013 Constitution, and were looking for money to take the matter to court in October but luckily, this case for this reference came up, and has given them an opportunity to raise their voice in the court.
The hearing continues in the Supreme Court.
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