New Fiji arrest law faulted

SUVA, Fiji, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- The military government of Fiji has made emergency regulations permanent by enshrining them in law, critics say.

Commodore Voreqe ''Frank'' Bainimarama, who has ruled the island nation since a military coup in 2006, announced the end of the emergency regulations Saturday, the Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald reported. But a day earlier, the country's public order law was amended to give the government new power to make arrests, to hold suspected troublemakers without formal charges for up to 14 days and to use the military as police.

Bainimarama said the changes are necessary to protect the democratic process while Fijians decide on a new constitution. In a speech Tuesday to 2,000 members of the military, he spoke of the danger of violence and political upheaval.

''The military will come in to help the police avoid any of these things from happening," he said. "The military will always help the government in whatever plans they have.''

Akuila Yabaki, head of the Citizens' Constitutional Forum and a Methodist minister, said the changes to the public order law have undone the effect of lifting the emergency regulations.

''They have to give us a reason why we should engage in a constitutional consultation while at the same time allowing these restrictions,'' he said.

The emergency regulations were put in force in 2009.