US Report: Re-entry bans used to exile critics
THE Government has used reentry bans as a de facto means of exiling critics, states the United States Department of State 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Fiji.
The report states under the Public Order Act, authorities can enforce public order and the Government “may restrict freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation”.
The report states that in the past years, Opposition parties had called on the Government to lift re-entry bans on all present and former citizens, including notable historian and former citizen Brij Lal.
“The Immigration Department stated Lal could reapply for re-entry into the country; however, the ban reportedly remained in place as of November.
“Lal was deported in 2009 for activities ‘prejudicial to the peace, defence and public security of the Government of Fiji’.
“Lal’s wife, Padma, also an academic, was stopped from reentering the country in 2010.”
The report states that the Government restricted incountry movement in certain locations and implemented a nationwide curfew as part of preventative measures against COVID-19.
Questions on the issue were sent to the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Acting A-G Faiyaz Koya and the permanent secretary responsible for the Department of Immigration, Yogesh Karan.
No responses were received when this edition went to press.
The Immigration Department stated Lal could reapply for re-entry into the country... US Department of State 2020 Country Report