Lawyers Petition

FijiTimesOnline reports that a group of lawyers have petitioned for the removal of acting CJ Anthony Gates. You can read the full story below:-

A group of lawyers have called for the removal of the acting Chief Justice Anthony Gates and the reinstatement to the position of Justice Daniel Fatiaki.

Yesterday a petition was circulated to lawyers seeking their support. And the first signature on the petition was senior lawyer Hemendra Nagin.

“I’ve signed it and sent it off to other people,” Mr Nagin said. “It’s not because of the judgment (of the Fiji Court of Appeal regarding Naitasiri high chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata) but because we’re now approaching the sixth month period of suspension of the CJ and nothing has been done.”

He said the Chief Magistrate Naomi Matanitobua had also been suspended but was reinstated.

“This is a humble petition of the lawyers. We’re very polite and we just want our voices to be heard,” he said.

Mr Nagin said they hoped to forward the petition to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

Bravo to legal fratenity (those of you who signed) for stepping up to the plate.

The Petition calls for the re-instatement of CJ Fatiaki and questions the inpartiality of acting CJ Anthony Gates.

For Gates, it shows the lack of faith that his peers have in his ability to perform (with integrity) the functions of the office he attained, indirectly, at the barrel of a gun.

HnC has been emailed a copy of the Petition which is published below:-

GPO Box 1004
Suva

27 June 2007

His Excellency Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda CF, KStJ, MBE, JP
The President of the Republic of Fiji Islands
Government House
Suva

Your Excellency

Re: Petition by Legal Practitioners for the Immediate Reinstatement of Hon Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki

We, the members of the Fiji Law Society, hereby petition you, Sir, for the immediate termination of the suspension and re-instatement of the Hon Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki whom we view as a man of integrity and not deserving of the arbitrary treatment to which he has been subjected.

Chief Justice Fatiaki’s re-instatement will restore the much needed confidence in the judiciary and re-assure the nation. It will aslo enable the continued appointment of distingushed Appellate Judges from Australia and New Zealand.

No charges have yet been laid against the Chief Justice although he has been suspended for almost six months.

The judgment of the Fiji Court of Appeal in the Ratu Inoke Takiveikata case delivered on 25th June 2007 has undermined the integrity and impartiality of the Acting Chief Justice. It is therefore imperative for the sake of the Rule of Law and the Independence of the Judiciary that the Chief Justice is reinstated forthwith.

We remain,

Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Servants

HnC encourages all lawyers to sign the Petition and support the call for CJ Fatiaki’s immediate reinstatement.

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