FIJI: Ousted PM says travel to Suva 'blocked' by military
Updated
Fiji's deposed prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, says his attempt to return to Suva this Friday has been blocked by the interim military government. The former prime minister fled to the Lau Islands after being ousted in a coup last December. Earlier this month he told Radio Australia he planned to visit Suva to meet his lawyers and discuss a court case he and members of his SDL party are bringing against the interim government. But Mr Qarase claims the military's threatened to kill him if he travels.
Presenter: Steve Holland
Speakers: Fiji's deposed prime minister, Laisenia Qarase
HOLLAND: Laisenia Qarase planned to return to Suva this Friday for the first time since being ousted from power. He says he arranged to catch up with family and friends and prepare for a court case concerning the legality of last December's coup. He also hoped to start work on the SDL Party's affairs, including preparations for the next general elections. But Mr Qarase says he's been forced to his plans.
QARASE: Well this morning about 10 minutes to 8 o'clock in the morning Fiji time, I received a death threat, a telephone call. The caller said that he was from our military and the person told me that the military was looking forward to my return to the mainland, but that on arrival, they will kill me. He then swore at me. Before I could say anything, he put the phone down.
HOLLAND: The former prime minister says it's not only death threats keeping him in the remote Lau Islands.
QARASE: Later on in the day, I received communication from the SDL Party office from our national director telling me that my travel plans this week to return to Suva have got into trouble. The military has instructed Air Fiji Limited, the local airline that services this island, never to transport me on any of their planes.
HOLLAND: Mr Qarase says the alleged restrictions imposed by the interim government are a gross violation of his rights.
QARASE: And also I think it is contempt of court, because the court about two months ago, had cleared the way for my travel to Suva and within Fiji.
HOLLAND: Mr Qarase is preparing for a court battle that will see him challenge the legality of the military takeover, which he claims was unconstitutional. He says this may have prompted the alleged restrictions.
QARASE: I think it has something to do with that case. I don't really know why it should bother them, because we are exercising our right to take our grievances to court in the normal way.
HOLLAND: Fiji's Attorney-General Aiyaz Saiyad Khaiyum says Fiji's interim government has not threatened Mr Qarase. He says it's difficult for the government to respond to such allegations.
KAIYUM: Well, what can one say to that. I mean there are a number of ministers in the current cabinet who have been threatened with all sorts of things, so I mean nothing has come out of it. I mean how am I to know whether the claim itself can be substantiated firstly. And secondly, if indeed it is true, we can't work much on it unless you know who it is that called.
HOLLAND: The Attorney-General also challenges Mr Qarase's claims that the government is imposing restrictions on his movement.
KAIYUM: That's another allegation. Air Fiji is a private company. It obviously can take passengers etcetera. There is no restriction on the former prime minister to travel within Fiji. So he can travel from Lau to Suva, to wherever. There's no restriction on him per se.
HOLLAND: And concerning Mr Qarase's upcoming court case Mr Saiyad Khaiyum says Mr Qarase has the right to challenge the government in the courts, and that right will not be restricted.
KAIYUM: We have always said right from the beginning this government after it was appointed by the president following 5 January this year that anybody can seek legal redress with the courts, and the court systems judiciary is independent. And as he has lodged a claim, those claims are going through. There's a hearing date has already been set for it, which is early October. There's some interlocutory matters that will be heard in September, but the hearing date for the matter proper is on the 2nd October. The trial period has been set for some three to four weeks.
HOLLAND: Despite the Attorney-General's reassurances, Mr Qarase says he will not be returning to Suva this Friday. But he says he will continue with his efforts to challenge Fiji's interim government.
QARASE: For the time being, I will remain on the island. I have access by phone of course and fax to the media, to the outside world, so I continue to express my views and things that are happening in the country. So I am trying to help restore democracy in Fiji. That's really my main aim and I think the aim of the great majority of people here in Fiji.
