Interim Govt called on to reverse decision

We call upon the interim government of Fiji to reverse its decision immediately and allow the International Bar Association the freedom to enter the country.

These are the words of IBA President, Fernando Pombo.

In a press statement, the IBA states it is dismayed at the Interim Government's decision to ban a visit by a high-level IBA delegation, which includes senior jurists from Australia and Malaysia.

IBA Executive Director, Mark Ellis states and I quote, "We are disappointed that the Fiji government has taken such a draconian stance. The decision deprives Fijians of the opportunity to have an open discussion and objective feedback on issues that are clearly of concern for both the country and the international community," Unquote.

IBA Human Rights Institute Co-Chair, Ambassador Emilio Cardenas said the independence of the judiciary is a key element in the rule of law and is one of the highest priorities in the work of the IBA adding the purpose of the visit was to assess this independence in Fiji.

The delegation was scheduled to visit from 18th to the 22nd February.

Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum confirmed that no member of the International Bar Association is welcome in Fiji at this stage as their presence could jeopardize the constitutional cases currently before the courts.