The Fiji Labour Party has begun a boycott of meetings of parliament's Justice, Law and Order Committee in protest against its chairman.
The committee is headed by the deputy speaker of parliament, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, who was recently banned from practising law for life after being found guilty of professional misconduct for agreeing to be sworn in as a member of George Speight's failed administration.
Ratu Rakuita is also due to appear in court on coup-related charges of taking an unlawful oath to commit a capital offence and engaging in a seditious enterprise.
Labour Party members walked out of yesterday's meeting and say they will stay away while Ratu Rakuita is its chair.
The Labour leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, says in view of the ban on Ratu Rakuita, and the serious court charges against him, it would be a mockery of parliament if he was allowed to continue in such a key position.
