Fiji expels envoys over Sri Lankan judges

Fiji’s Military Leader Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday ordered the Australian and New Zealand envoys to leave within 24 hours over alleged interference in Fiji’s judiciary after a number of Sri Lankan judges appointed to serve in Fiji had been told they would not be able to travel through Australia to take up their new jobs, an accusation denied by Canberra.
He has also recalled Fiji’s envoy to Australia with immediate effect. In a speech to the people yesterday Bainimarama highlighted what he called “the interference into the Fijian Judiciary by the governments of Australia and New Zealand.”
Calling the Sri Lankan judges’ incident “shameful” he noted that denial by Australian officials was futile. “However, we now know that one of these Sri Lankan judges had the foresight to tape the conversation in which she was informed by the Australian official in Colombo that travel sanctions would apply because she had taken the position in the Fijian judiciary.
The culmination of these incidents displays a consolidated effort to attack Fijis independent judiciary. It also shows that the Australian and New Zealand Governments have been dishonest and untruthful over the matter of travel ban for judges.”
He also noted that “we are also proud of our country and our sovereignty and we believe in living in dignity. Therefore, we should ensure that our sovereignty, our Judiciary and key institutions are allowed to function with independence and integrity. It is my Governments duty to ensure that no foreign Government should interfere with such judicial independence and integrity. We must always protect and be proud our sovereignty.”