After the two coups executed by Major General Sitiveni Rabuka against Timoci Bavadra’s NFP–Labour Coalition government in 1987, the country was still in a state of political uncertainty in 1990.
It had been declared a Republic by Rabuka soon after his second coup in September 1987, but after two attempts at finding a Constitution acceptable to all sections of Fiji's community, success was still elusive.
After the failure of the interim government in having two versions of its proposed Constitution accepted by all people of Fiji, the country was in a political stalemate.
This was a loose grouping of like-thinking individuals, most of whom were University of the South Pacific (USP) academics, who had the common desire to see the restoration of a democratic government in the country after the 1970 constitution had been abrogated by Major-General Rabuka.
Their main aim was to bring the plight of the people of Fiji to the notice of the free world through letters and other means of communication.
The protest was duly reported in the Daily Post the next day, with the front-page headline saying “Hindus burn constitution”.
In the week that made, plain-clothes policemen visited USP to obtain statements from some of the members of the protest group.
They had been taken captive and detained by the military for extended periods of time, during which they had been subjected to physical and psychological torture and interrogation.
I find that the tortious acts committed by the five defendants were so closely connected with their employment and in particular the functions and purposes of the Special Operations Security Unit that the sixth defendant, representing the State, is vicariously liable for those tortious acts.” Dr Singh, speaking to Fiji Live said he has finally found closure as the matter has been in the judicial system for 13 years.