Rodney Acraman is Fiji's Acting Ombudsman and thus the ex officio Chairperson of the Fiji Human Rights Commission. The Military administration, which took power in a coup d'état on 5 December 2006, appointed him to the Ombudsman's position on 13 December. The position had been vacant since Walter Rigamoto had resigned earlier in the year to resume his private law practice. [1]
Acraman's appointment prompted Commission member Sevuloni Valenitabua to resign in protest. Virisila Buadromo of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement also condemned the Commission for accepting Acraman's appointment, saying it was a tacit acceptance of the Military takeover. [2] Angie Heffernan of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity also attacked the appointment as having been "done under suspicious and questionable circumstances," [3] and judged it to be unconstitutional. Fiji Law Society President Devanesh Sharma voice similar views. [4]