29 Jan 2019

Deported Fiji landowner Karen Seaton dies

4:53 pm on 29 January 2019

Karen Seaton who had been fighting on behalf of foreign-born landowners in Fiji has died suddenly.

Karen Seaton

Karen Seaton Photo: Supplied

Ms Seaton was deported from Fiji just over two years ago for allegedly swearing at Fiji's president, which she denied.

She'd earlier voiced concerns about the impact of retrospective law changes to the Land Sales Act.

The 52-year-old was found dead in a hotel room in the United States a week ago.

Her mother Phyllis Seaton said the authorities had told her she died of natural causes.

"They did a post mortem.

"The results are death to due to natural causes and we all know that stress is a killer and she's had .. she's been living under stress and living on her iPad trying to get justice for the people of Fiji."

Karen Seaton's house on Koro Island, Fiji,  today.

Karen Seaton's house on Koro Island, Fiji, today. Photo: Supplied

Foreign owners of land in Fiji would keep fighting for justice to honour Ms Seaton, according to her friend and chairman of the Fiji Land Owners Association David Rand.

"Of course the loss of her property on Koro Island and her deportation under false circumstances and losing her life savings was a big blow to her but she was recovering, practising as a nurse in Canada and everytime I spoke with her she seemed upbeat."

Her experience in Fiji led her to speak out about injustices she saw in Fiji, Mr Rand said.

"It was an impact to her to take everything she had and move as a single woman to a remote island and build a home and try to make a life going forward.

"To have all that taken away had a great impact on her."

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