Lal hopes Australian diplomatic pressure will lift Fiji ban

Transcript

The former Fiji-based academic Brij Lal says pressure from Australia may be the only way he can return to his homeland.

Professor Lal who was a vocal critic of the coup-installed Bainimarama regime was deported from Fiji in 2009.

Last week Fiji's Immigration Minister told parliament the ban would remain indefinitely because of Professor Lal's opposition to the move towards democracy in Fiji.

Professor Lal told Sally Round that couldn't be further from the truth.

BRIJ LAL: I did write to the Foreign Minister Julie Bishop some time ago saying that now that Australia had lifted travel sanctions on Fiji people associated with the coup will there be a reciprocal decision on the part of the Fijian government. She said that it was up to the Fiji government but she hoped that after the elections of last year that we will be allowed to return so I think I might just write to her to put the situation to her at least so it's on the record.

SALLY ROUND: Can you take us back to when you were banned prior to the elections. This was going back to 2009?

BL: Yes, the soldiers came and took me to the barracks, abused me and said 'well you have to leave the country' the next day. There are two things I want to put on the record. The Minister for Immigration has told two lies to the parliament of Fiji. The first one that we were issued with an indefinite order banning us from Fiji. That is absolutely not true. There is no piece of paper, there is absolutely no evidence. We were not told why we were being deported from Fiji so that's one lie. The other thing he has told the Fijian parliament that the reason why they don't want us back is because I was opposing the return of Fiji to parliamentary democracy. In fact I was adamant at fighting for the return of democracy to Fiji in a timely fashion. I've always been an advocate of democratic values. The reasons why we are banned, I assume, don't exist any more. The country has a new constitution, a new elected parliament, a new Government and so in a sense really, I have lost, they have won. So why this vindictive action now five years later? It's just difficult to comprehend.

SR: Do you think you have any legal recourse at all?

BL: I've talked to some lawyers. What they've told me is this - 'look we can litigate on your behalf and we can raise this issue in parliament but at the end of the day it is a couple of individuals in Government whose voice will carry'. They will not budge. And in any case the courts will be very reluctant to rule against the Government  and given the history of Fiji's judiciary over the last eight or nine years, you'll understand why these lawyers in Fiji, very eminent lawyers, why they're saying this to me.

SR: What sway do you think the Foreign Minister of Australia might have if she brings this case up?

BL: Australia cannot of course dictate what Fiji should do. Fiji is a sovereign state but Australia can apply moral pressure. In other words say 'look we have lifted all the sanctions, we have restored diplomatic relations, we want to work together and this is unfortunately a blot on the image of the Government'. It's a constant reminder that things are not all hunky dory in Fiji.