Critics of Fiji's military regime say a new decree issued after emergency laws were lifted last week is more draconian than the rules it replaced.

Prime minister Frank Bainimarama's new year announcement that three-year-old emergency laws would be lifted offered a glimmer of hope that the Pacific nation might return to democracy.

But a new public order decree has been put in place, giving members of the Fiji military forces and police the power to use weapons to break up meetings and hold people for weeks without allowing them access to courts.

The chief executive of the Citizens Constitutional Forum in Fiji, Akuila Yabaki, says hopes for democracy have been dashed.

Mr Yabaki says under the decree, members of the military are now able to arrest civilians and conduct the duties of police and prison officers, if so directed by the commissioner of police, who is himself a highly placed military officer.

"The decree does not specify how long such, 'temporary control of persons' is permitted," he said.

"And begs the question, it could be perceived as an instrument to limit the rights of selected individuals from speaking out openly and freely."

The new laws restrict Fijians from meeting to discuss the country's politics, and Mr Yabaki says he is worried his organisation and others like it could be targeted.

"Tomorrow some of us NGO civil societies are meeting with the police officers who are going to be in charge of the procedures of how you get the permits and things," he said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 2 minutes 52 seconds 2 m 52 s Democracy hopes dashed by Fijian regime's new powers ( Simon Lauder ) Download 1.3 MB

"But we do know now, according to what's available in local media, those who have been deemed to be trouble making since the last coup, they've been reminded that they need permits in order to organise their meetings.

"We do not think we belong to that category, but we will soon learn tomorrow."

The Fiji Labour Party, which has been elected to govern Fiji twice and thrown out of government in a coup twice, has released a statement declaring the new decree more draconian and repressive than the emergency laws it replaces.

Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement spokesman Von Driu says the new decree will prevent any effective opposition.

He says any opposition in Fiji will have little chance in the 2014 elections.

"People who will talk in opposition with the current regime, they are being silenced," he said.

Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says he will not consider lifting targeted sanctions on members of the Bainimarama regime until there is real change in Fiji.