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LoginFiji academic taken into custody after critical interview – expelled
Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch, 5 November 2009
PROFESSOR TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN FIJI AFTER INTERVIEW
SUVA (Radio New Zealand/Pacific Media Watch): A Fiji-born born Australian National University academic, Professor Brij Lal, has been taken into custody in Fiji, just hours after speaking to ABC Radio about the current diplomatic stoush.
He was later expelled.
Professor Lal was very critical of the Fiji government’s latest actions in the interview.
The professor’s family says he was escorted from his home in Suva on Wednesday afternoon by the military, the ABC reports.
Officers refused to provide the reason for his detention or where he was being taken.
The family says the military is now refusing to confirm he is in custody.
Professor Lal is an Australian citizen and a leading academic and researcher on Fiji’s political history.
He was was involved in drafting the country’s constitution in 1997.
Tragedy, Lal tells ABC
Only hours before his arrest, Professor Lal spoke to ABC Radio’s PM programme about the sense of confusion among people in Fiji.
“I think that on the whole there’s a sense of puzzlement and a sense of disappointment that this has come to pass,” he said.
“This is unfortunately a tragedy for this country.”
Professor Lal said he was doubtful Commodore Bainimarama’s promised 2014 poll would come to pass.
Source: 6519 Pacific Media Watch
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