LAWFUEL – The Law News Wire – The Fiji Times reports that the situation in Fiji since last year’s coup is getting worse because lawyers are not able to do their work freely, says New Zealand-based lawyer Janet Mason.
Speaking from her home in Wellington last night, Ms Mason said lawyers needed to represent their clients without fear of being taken to the camp.
She expressed her concerns at the detainment of her colleagues Kitione Vuataki and Ratu Savenaca Komaisavai.
She believes the interim regime is targeting those who give legal advice against the military.
Ms Mason is a member of the Fiji Law Society. She was admitted to the Fiji Bar in October last year.
But the Public and Constitutional Law specialist believes it had nothing to do with the burglary in her house.
Her husband, a captain in the New Zealand Navy, received a gash on the head after he was hit by a torch when he tried to stop the two suspects who broke into their house early that morning.
Ms Mason, whose mother is from Nadrau, said it would be irresponsible of her to say the break-in was connected to the work she had been doing for the Great Council of Chiefs.
“I have no idea who did it but there’s speculation,” she said.
Ms Mason had been doing work for the GCC before it was suspended.
She was helping Mr Vuataki and Ratu Savenaca research the case of four chiefs were suspended from the GCC because they did not endorse the nomination of President Ratu Josefa Iloilo for Vice-President.
Senior Superintendent Laqai said they were treating the burglary case like any other case.
“Our investigation into the case is continuing,” he said.
