5 Jul 2004

Fiji police maintain tight security for treason trial judge

10:14 am on 5 July 2004

Fiji police are maintaining a round-the-clock security cordon round the High Court judge presiding over the treason trial of vice president Seniloli and five others.

The Fiji Sun says the police spokesman, Mesake Koroi, has confirmed they are maintaining a 24-hour security watch on Justice Nazhat Shameem and her family.

Mr Koroi says no threats have been made but police are not taking any chances.

Last Thursday the trial was disrupted by two bomb threats when the courts and the entire Government Buildings complex had to be evacuated.

On Friday, the Citizens Constitutional Forum released a statement which said that a group of politicians involved in the coup and their supporters had been meeting regularly in the ruling SDL party's office in Suva.

The statement said, at the meeting, a well-known senator had issued threats against the life of the Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, if the vice president and others were convicted, adding that there would be bloodshed.