SUVA, Fiji, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Fiji's military leaders Saturday lifted a state of martial law in the country that had been in place since 2009, but imposed other regulations and restrictions.
After a military coup in 2006, current leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama took over the country and imposed emergency regulations that greatly expanded police powers, placed government monitors in newsrooms and decreased the rights of non-governmental organizations and religious organizations to hold meetings, The New York Times reported.
On Saturday, the emergency regulations were lifted.
"There is nothing more I want than a Fiji with a truly democratic government, one representative of all Fijians. For the first time in our history, we are on the path to making this a reality," Bainimarama said in a speech Friday announcing the end of martial law.
However, during his speech Bainimarama also said the country's Public Order Act had been updated, and included more regulation and restrictions, The Fiji Times reported.
"It seems likely that organizations who were the targets of the Public Emergency Regulations -- mostly [non-governmental organizations], the Methodist Church, prominent individual critics and media outlets -- will need to continue to be cautious in whatever comments they make about government in the public domain, because they still stand to be punished under the additional decrees," said Jenny Hayward-Jones, a regional expert at The Lowy Institute in Sydney.
Bainimarama said the Public Order Act is meant to empower citizens, modernize the country and strengthen the economy.
"We have sought to rid our society and institutions of behavior and practices that discriminate, that spread prejudice and misinformation," he said. "It has resulted in an overall decrease in the crime rate, the creation of a stable society, one that is safe for everyone including individuals, communities and businesses to succeed."
