Unable to visit dying mother

FIJI – An arch critic of the Bainimarama government in Fiji says its reasons for not allowing him to leave if he visits Fiji are highly questionable.

Shailendra Raju has received a letter from the director of immigration who confirmed he was on a “controversial” list and wouldn’t be allowed to depart if he visited Fiji.

Raju lives in New Zealand and wanted to visit his dying mother in Fiji this month but believed he would be persecuted and not allowed to leave. She died on Thursday as he was trying to get clarification from the authorities.

Raju said the authorities have referred to a 2005 bench warrant in relation to his divorce case which has since been resolved.

“I have travelled to Fiji at least 13 times between 2008 and 2011 so this issue of this stale bench warrant is really questionable because if there was such a warrant that should have been executed in the previous trip,” said Shailendra Raju.

“It raises serious questions about the reasons they have given for the travel restrictions.”