The State cannot refuse entry of its citizens but has every right to do so to foreign nationals under its immigration laws, says Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission director Ashwin Raj. .
He was responding to queries on the commission’s stance on the barring of the late Professor Brij Lal from Fiji. Mr Raj said Prof Lal held a Fijian passport which expired in June 1993.
“He did not apply for renewal after the expiry of the Fijian passport,” he said.
“He held an American passport since 1993 and Australian passport (since 1995).
“Records from the Department of Immigration show that he is a former Fiji citizen and did not apply for dual citizenship but continued to hold Australian and American passports.”
Mr Raj said dual citizenship for Fiji came into effect on April 10, 2009.
“As the records show, Prof Lal chose not to hold Fijian citizenship and, therefore, effectively forfeited certain rights that citizens of Fiji invariably enjoy as his entry into Fiji as a non-citizen is subject to Fiji’s immigration laws.”
