Fiji's government is lifting one of the controversial restrictions it put in place after the 2006 coup and will now allow groups such as political parties to hold meetings without requiring a police permit.
Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that as part of the progress toward elections, the Government was suspending the requirement for groups to get police permits to hold a meeting.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said it was to help political parties and other groups meet up to discuss their submissions to the newly established Constitution Commission, which will begin taking public submissions soon on developing a new Constitution for Fiji in advance of an election.
"Political parties, NGO's, any group can go and have meetings without having to get a permit. We have suspended the requirement for a permit essentially to create the environment for those people who might have felt they did not have the right environment to get together, consult and make submissions to the Constitution Commission."
He said permits would still be required for meetings on a public road, in a public park or a sporting arena. However, any group could now meet to discuss any issue in other venues, such as town halls, churches, pubs, hotels or private homes.
