Fiji's president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has called on Fiji to rally to the defence of democracy during the opening of the new parliamentary session.
The Fijian president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau inspects the Guard of Honour before addressing parliament Photo: RNZI / Sally Round
In a forceful address Fiji's head of state warned any attempt to overturn the government before the next election in 2018 would be subject to the full force of the law.
Dozens of people have been rounded up in the last two months accused of sedition and their cases are now before the courts.
Ratu Epeli described the alleged actions as an insult to democracy and called on people to condemn them.
He also said he was saddened by divisions in parliament over the last session, the first since the 2006 coup and he called for the tone to be raised and a battle of ideas with the national interest in mind.