Fiji's military has declared an emergency - or martial law - in a bid to silence deposed prime minister Laisenia Qarase.

Military appointed Interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is making a statement late this afternoon while Fiji Military Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga, claimed they were acting because Qarase was inciting public hatred.

Military commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama staged a coup in December, bringing down Qarase's government. Qarase fled to his home in the remote Lau Islands and remained in exile until last weekend.

Tikoitoga said the military council - which Bainimarama heads - believed Qarase was making statements on behalf of somebody else.

"At our military council meeting we felt that the complaints made by Mr Qarase on death threats and other matters did not augur well with the security situation so we decided it would be best to bring the (emergency) decree back," he said.