14 Jun 2007

Lawyer fears Fiji ban possible

5:40 pm on 14 June 2007

A lawyer representing Fiji human rights activist Angie Heffernan claims he may not be allowed back into the country.

Dr John Cameron, who is also representing the Fiji Law Society in its case against the appointment of the acting chief justice, Anthony Gates, has told Suva High Court judge, Justice Jiten Singh, that he could be prohibited from entering Fiji in the future.

Dr Cameron told the court the Judicial Services Commission should stop making all appointments until a chief justice is appointed.

He said meetings of the Commission are irregularly constituted and that in the circumstances its appointments are irregular.

He said he would make a submission for an order to be made for the interim attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, to appear in the High Court.

Outside the court Dr Cameron told the media that he would not be surprised if he is refused entry into the country.

He said in 1987 when he represented the then deposed prime minister, Dr Timoci Bavadra, he was declared persona non grata and banned.

But the director of immigration, Commander Viliame Naupoto, has told Radio Legend that Dr Cameron's claims are unfounded and he will not be stopped from entering Fiji.