18 Oct 2002

Fiji uses ex-pat lawyer for appeal on Tarakinikini ruling

4:24 pm on 18 October 2002

Fiji's army has taken on an expatriate and former government lawyer to prepare its appeal against the resignation of former spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini.

The army has appointed William Calanchini to aid them in the case.

Mr Calanchini is the former deputy Solicitor General of Fiji and is also a Major in the Australian Reserve Forces.

He is also expected to help in several other court martials to be convened by the army.

The High Court recently quashed the Commodore Frank Bainimarama's decision not to accept Lt-Col Tarakinikini's resignation.

Meanwhile the attorney general Qoriniasi Bale says discussions are continuing on whether he and the president's office can appeal the decision.

Fiji's president Ratu Josefa Iloilo, Commodore Bainimarama and Mr Bale have been named as defendants in the case.