Ousted PM Qarase arrives today
Saturday September 01, 2007

Laisenia Qarase

Fiji's deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase arrives at the Nausori Airport within the next hour, the Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua party confirms.

SDL director Peceli Kinivuwai told Fijilive that flight arrangements had been made early this morning.

Qarase's Air Fiji flight from Vanuabalavu, Lau is expected to touchdown at the Nausori Airport at around 11am.

Qarase was to arrive in Suva yesterday but claimed the military had directed Air Fiji not to fly him over.

He also claimed to have received death threats from the military. This has been denied by the military.

Qarase wants to be in Suva for his next court date.

He is challenging the legality of the Immunity Decree granting Presidential pardon to the military for its overthrow of the multi-party government on December 5, 2006.

Meanwhile interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday filed papers in the High Court against Qarase and deposed Home Affairs Minister Josefa Vosanibola stating that they failed to inform the President on key governance issues leading up to the December coup.

He is seeking 14 declarations leading with the declaration that Qarase had failed in his duty to inform the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo on important matters as required under Section 104 of the Constitution.

He wants the High Court to declare that Qarase failed to inform the Ratu Josefa that Qarase had contacted the Australian Government and requested external military force to Fiji in case of intervention by the military.