28 May 2009

Amnesty condemns Fiji regime moves against Law Society

7:06 pm on 28 May 2009

Amnesty International has condemned the recent raid of the Fiji Law Society and the removal of confidential files by the newly appointed Chief Registrar of the High Court, former army legal advisor Major Ana Rokomokoti.

Amnesty says it is totally unacceptable to impose rules which effectively prohibit lawyers from practising unless licensed by the illegal military government of Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

It says since the coup of December 2006, the military led government has consistently attacked the independence of the judiciary.

Furthermore, it says the continued harassment and intimidation of lawyers must cease immediately.

Amnesty welcomes the New Zealand Law Society's statement that it will monitor the situation.

But Amnesty International says it believes the current situation will only be resolved with the sustained pressure of the international community against the injustices which are taking place with alarming and systematic regularity.