THE Constitution Commission is trying to find the answer to the question of how to stop coups in Fiji, says commission chairman Professor Yash Ghai.
In a brief address at the opening of the seminar on Democratic Transitions on Wednesday night at the FNU Nasinu campus, Prof Ghai said a large number of people had spoken to the commission about coups and their dislike of coups.
He said the dislike of coups was one uniting factor for Fijians.
"People from rural communities, urban centres, different communities, different parts of Fiji have urged us to find the magical formula which makes coups impossible in Fiji, now that is a challenge," Prof Ghai said.
He said people had also suggested that the commission look at ways of ensuring Fiji did not have any more coup.
"However, I had to tell them that Nigeria did that many times and it was no deterrent to the army," Prof Ghai said.
"So we have to think of other ways that coups could be prevented, establishing just systems, responding to people's concerns, allowing people's participation and above all building a national identity, solidarity that comes with the common identity.
"This was a challenge, indeed."
Prof Ghai said during his meeting with Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama in New York at the UN General Assembly, the Prime Minister had told him that "my coup is the coup to end all coups" .
Prof Ghai said the Constitution Commission faced the challenge of addressing the issue effectively.