The Interim Attorney General has today rejected suggestions by the International Bar Association (IBA) that the interim government has allegedly threatened the IBA not to come to Fiji assess the rule of law in the country.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said it is not the case that they are blocking the IBA as they have allowed Law Asia and the European Union missions to come in and assess the independence of the judiciary.
He said the IBA unlike Law Asia and the EU group has already pre-judged a lot of matters and had no consultations with him or the Acting Chief Justice about their visit.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the IBA should follow proper protocol and stop speaking to a group of lawyers who are allegedly misinforming the International Bar Association.
He is also concerned with IBA's comments that the threat made by Sayed-Khaiyum against the delegation is unacceptable in a free and democratic society and reflects badly on the state of affairs in Fiji.
In a statement released today, the International Bar Association said it condemns the threat made by Sayed-Khaiyum against the high-level delegation scheduled to conduct an in-country review of the rule of law in Fiji.
The IBA said it received a letter from Sayed-Khaiyum declaring that the government of Fiji does not welcome or approve the delegation's visit and would take appropriate steps if the IBA attempts to visit Fiji. The delegation included senior jurists from Australia and Malaysia who were scheduled to meet with judges and members of the legal profession for five days between 8th to 12th December.
The IBA said it is disappointed with the interim government's step and is also troubled by the latest attempt to thwart the efforts of a non-political professional association to assess the situation.
However, the International Bar Association said it is not deterred and will carry out the review using other avenues available. It said it will issue a report in the near future and it regrets that the Fiji government will not meet with the delegation to present its own views on the rule of law in Fiji.
Reports are now coming through to fijivillage News that Fijian national, Charlie Charters has been arrested by FICAC and is now being brought to Suva....
3 minutes ago
The Bank of the South Pacific Financial Group Limited has delivered a strong financial performance for the year ended 31st December 2025, recording a ...
1 hour ago
Fijian national, Charlie Charters is being held at immigration at Nadi International Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file.fijivillage News has ...
1 hour ago
US President Donald Trump has imposed a new 10 percent global tariff to replace ones struck down by the Supreme Court, calling the ruling 'terrible' ...
4 hours ago
The Minister for Public Enterprises, Charan Jeath Singh is calling for stronger financial discipline and strategic reform at the Fiji Meat Industry ...
4 hours ago
The entire community gathered at My Suva Park to celebrate International Mother Language Day, highlighting Fiji’s rich cultural and linguistic ...
4 hours ago
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
15 days ago
The application for leave for the judicial review has been made by former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali, former Attorney General Graham Leung ...
15 days ago
Another legal battle starts today as sacked FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali takes her matter to court against the President, Prime Minister and ...
16 days ago
