29 May 2007

Fiji's interim PM says everyone should understand why lawyers were detained

10:31 am on 29 May 2007

Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says he thinks everyone would have understood why two lawyers were detained by the military in recent days.

The Fiji Sun reports that Commodore Bainimarama made the comment after the Fiji Law Society wrote to him and the interim attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, seeking answers asking why Kitione Vuataki and Ratu Savenaca Komaisuva were detained.

Neither minister has received the letter yet but Commodore Bainimarama says he found it amusing that they had written.

Commodore Bainimarama says if they don't understand why the lawyers were taken in, it is plain and simple - it was for inciteful comments they made in the media.

Commodore Bainimarama says the Law Society should listen to and read the statements made by the two which were inciting.

Commodore Bainimarama says the lawyers were trying to associate the suspension of the Great Council of Chiefs and the land issue when they are two separate and very sensitive matters.