Kiwi lawyers urged not to take up Fiji posts

Published: 5:54AM Thursday April 16, 2009 Source: Newstalk ZB

The New Zealand Law Society is urging New Zealand lawyers not to take up any posts in Fiji.

Military ruler Frank Bainimarama has sacked the Supreme Court judges after they ruled his government was unlawful.

He has since put the country under martial law and thrown out the constitution.

New Zealand Law Society President John Marshall says judicial and government legal positions have often been filled by New Zealand lawyers.

But he says it would be wrong for a New Zealand lawyer to accept any office in Fiji at the moment given the regime is unlawful.

Marshall says lawyers in Fiji will need to be courageous to ensure peoples' freedoms are upheld.

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