SUVA, Fiji — Australian publisher Russell Hunter’s expulsion fro Fiji last week has led Deposed Opposition Leader Mick Beddoes and others to ask questions about the interim government’s respect for the rule of law.  Specifically, Beddoes questions an amendment to the Immigration Act of 2003 that took effect the day after Hunter’s removal, which stipulated that orders of removal cannot be reviewed by the judiciary.  Beddoes said, “They’re saying it is pure coincidence that the law was brought in when Mr Hunter was being expelled and they think for some reason that the citizenry in Fiji are a bunch of idiots, and we can’t see through the lies that are being told to the people.”

Beddoes also believes that the change to the law represented a direct subversion of the judiciary.  He has questioned whether or not the judges issuing the injunction of Hunter’s removal were aware of the change or in the law, or if “the ink on the new law still drying when the court decision was handed down.” 

The interim government insists that the timing of the change in the immigration law was purely coincidental.  Interim Immigration Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau said, “It would have been better for Government had this law come in before Russel Hunter was removed but it didn’t come into force until the day after. And I think the current immigration act was sufficient to actually effect the decision by Government to remove Russel Hunter on the grounds that he had breached the conditions of his work permit.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International — Fiji immigration law change not linked to Hunter expulsion, says interim minister — 03 March 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji Immigration law amended to stop challenge over Hunter expulsion – Mick Beddoes — 03 March 2008

Fiji Times — Regime’s vote of no confidence — 04 March 2008