In 2007, the Fiji Human Rights Commission created controversy when its chairwoman Dr Shaista Shameem expressed support for the 2006 coup.
[2] The interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama issued an assurance that his government was committed to upholding the law and protecting human rights as in the constitution.
[1] The FHRC later commissioned an inquiry into the 2006 general election which had brought the subsequently deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to power.
The Commission of Inquiry delivered a report which "identifie[d] deficiencies and anomalies at every stage of the election process",[3] maintaining that the democratic legitimacy of Prime Minister Qarase's deposed government had been questionable.
The government had unlimited powers to give the Commission "general policy guidance", and was responsible for the structure and management of the body.