28 Feb 2008

CCF urges respect for Fiji injunction in Hunter deportation casee

4:28 pm on 28 February 2008

The Citizens Constitutional Forum in Fiji says it wants the interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, and the immigration minister, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, to comply with the injunction of Judge Jitendra Singh.

The CCF says it is concerned that the interim government did not allow due process to take place when it deported the Australian publisher of the Fiji Sun, Russell Hunter.

The Fiji authorities said they acted because he was a risk to Fiji's security but declined to elaborate.

An injunction to halt Mr Hunter's expulsion was not followed.

There has been international condemnation of the interim regime's action.

The publisher's family has been given three weeks to leave Fiji.

Meanwhile, the The Fiji Human Rights Commission says it will recommend to the government that all existing work permits in the media industry not be renewed.

It has also been recommended that no further work permits be issued.

Its report says authorities should consider facilitating legislation providing penalties for the publication or broadcast of material that can incite sedition or breaches the Public Order Act.