Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji’s interim AG rejects claims judges are being told what to do

Posted at 21:05 on 03 November, 2009 UTC

Fiji’s interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum, is rejecting claims that judges appointed by the military regime are being told what to do.

The heads of the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions have been expelled from Fiji after claims the countries interfered with the Fijian judiciary by refusing travel visas for judges.

This morning the Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully said the New Zealand government now regards the appointed judges as part of the regime.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum says there is no evidence of this at all.

“Please give us a single shred of evidence to show that the judiciary is being interfered with by the executive. Do I pick up the phone and tell them what to do or what to say, does the prime minister do that, does anyone else do that, no.”

Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum says says the high commissioner for Fiji based in Canberra will now be recalled.