-
Fiji's ousted prime minister Laisenia Qarase -
Related
Fiji's ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, may be barred
from travelling overseas because of inciteful anti-government
comments he made during a trip to Australia.
Qarase was removed from the top job in a December 2006 and charged
with abuse of office by the newly-installed military regime, which
put him under house arrest.
The deposed leader has been permitted to leave the country once
since, to visit family in Brisbane in March.
But now Fiji's anti-corruption agency is blocking a second bid to
go overseas, claiming he used the last trip for political
gain.
"The accused had travelled overseas and got involved in political
activities and made inciteful statements in front of journalists
from Australia which was widely televised in the Australian
Broadcasting (Corporation)," prosecutor Aca Rayawa said.
The agency claimed the fact Qarase had told Australian media he was
being threatened in Fiji was reason enough for him to be banned
from overseas travel.
"The welfare of the community needs to be protected," the agency
said in a statement.
"The activities of the accused on his last travel to Australia
caused a lot of uncertainty and instability in the country."
Qarase's lawyer told the court his client wanted to travel to
rallies and fund-raise to pay his legal bills, banking up after two
years of fighting his charges.
The judge reserved his decision until next week.
Qarase has been campaigning for the return of democracy to the
island nation since his government was toppled by military leader
Frank Bainimarama.
The country was suspended from the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum
in May after Bainimarama set a belated 2014 election date.
The crackdown on Qarase is in line was harsh media and public
censorship introduced in April that requires no one speak out
against the regime.
Media outlets have had coverage vetted by government officials and
several conference speakers have been barred from presenting for
fear they will air pro-democracy views.
