The government has stated that the Fijian Immigration Department has ordered two foreign nationals, Pal Aluwahlia and his partner, Sandra Jane Price, to leave Fiji with immediate effect following continuous breaches by both individuals of Section 13 of the Immigration Act.
It says that under Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2003, no foreigner is permitted to conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of Fiji.
The government statement says Aluwahlia and Price were foreign citizens in Fiji on work permits.
It says after repeated breaches by both individuals of the provisions of Section 13 of the Immigration Act, their actions have clearly violated the terms of their work permits, resulting in their subsequent deportation.
The government says similar criteria have been applied to other foreign nationals in Fiji in the past and, as a sovereign nation, Fiji will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards any breaches of its immigration law.
It says there are thousands of foreign citizens on work permits in Fiji who conduct themselves and their business in line with the requirements of the Immigration Act while making invaluable contributions to Fiji's socio-economic development.
The government further says following recent amendments to Fiji's Immigration Act, foreign nationals can work and do business in Fiji more easily than ever, and Fiji will continue to welcome foreign nationals whose contributions, experience, and investments enrich the lives of the Fijian people.
USP Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife have been declared prohibited immigrants by the Fijian government, and deported from Fiji this morning.
The President of the USP Staff Association, Elizabeth Fong says they have received confirmation that Ahluwalia and his wife were taken in by Immigration and Police officials last night.
Fong says they were informed this morning that they were taken in between 11pm and midnight last night.
She says they were also getting reports from late last month about Ahluwalia’s work permit to be revoked.
A USP Council meeting is also scheduled for tomorrow.
The USP staff unions are meeting this morning.
When contacted by fijivillage, USP says it is unable to comment at this stage.
We are also trying to contact USP Pro Chancellor, Winston Thompson.
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The Fiji Law Society says any moves to deport Professor Pal Ahluwalia must cease immediately.
Fijivillage has received confirmation that Professor Ahluwalia and his wife are already deported on a flight to Brisbane from Nadi.
The Law Society says it is deeply concerned about the reports of the arrest and detainment of Ahluwalia and his wife.
It says Ahluwalia and his wife are in Fiji legally and must be treated with dignity and the due process of the law.
The Law Society says if there are any allegations against Professor Ahluwalia or his wife, they must be investigated according to law and any evidence gathered must be handed to the proper authorities for further investigation or prosecution.
It says deportation is not the proper manner in which to deal with this matter.
The Law Society says no individual should be subjected to deportation in an arbitrary manner and no authority should be allowed to exercise undue force where there are mechanisms to deal with such matters.
It also says Ahluwalia and his wife have rights that must be respected and an attempt to flout the law and act arbitrarily will diminish the confidence that individuals, particularly those in Fiji as expatriates, have in the rule of law and its application in Fiji.
The Association of the USP Staff and the USP Staff Union have today expressed their grave concern and disgust at the government’s decision to deport the regional University’s Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife.
In a statement after their meeting, the Presidents of the unions, Elizabeth Fong and Tarisi Vacala say given the seriousness of the decision, they demand the Fijian government to provide the justification for what they term ‘a gestapo tactic’.
They say according to media reports, Professor Ahluwalia has been cited as a ‘public risk’ and the staff as taxpayers, voters and owners of the university demand an explanation on how Ahluwalia is a ‘public risk’.
They say they are alarmed by the way that the officials allegedly broke into the Vice Chancellor’s residence in the middle of the night and orchestrated the removal of Ahluwalia and his wife.
Fong and Vacala say given the impact on the university’s reputation and staff morale, they reiterate their support for the USP Council to proceed with its scheduled meeting tomorrow to fully discuss this matter and already agreed to agenda items, to arrive at regionally acceptable solutions.
The unions say the manner in which the Vice Chancellor and his wife were removed is a violation of human rights and due process.
Fong and Vacala say in addition to this un-Pasifika and anti-Vuvale behavior, is the uninvited presence of Police on the Laucala Campus.
They say this is viewed as threatening and a disruption to the normal business of the regional University.
The unions say USP is a regional organization like Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Forum Fisheries Agency, SPC and demands the same respect given to these regional organisations.
SODELPA Leader Viliame Gavoka says they condemn the detention and deportation of USP Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife and is calling on Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration and the Attorney General to reverse their decision immediately and let Ahluwalia carry out his work.
Gavoka says they understand Ahluwalia and his wife were transported to Nadi last night and were deported today.
He adds Ahluwalia and his wife did not deserve the barbaric treatment they received.
Gavoka says it is outrageous, and it indicates the type of dictatorial leadership that Fiji is under.
He further says this episode unfortunately will have a drastic impact on Fiji's relationship with other Pacific Island nations and their people.
Gavoka adds as a people within a much larger Pacific Community, the unilateral treatment of the region’s university leader by Fiji shows contempt to our Pacific family and these acts of thuggery by the government and its servants will not go unasked.
The government has stated that the Fijian Immigration Department has ordered two foreign nationals, Pal Aluwahlia and his partner, Sandra Jane Price, to leave Fiji with immediate effect following continuous breaches by both individuals of Section 13 of the Immigration Act.
It says that under Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2003, no foreigner is permitted to conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of Fiji.
The government statement says Aluwahlia and Price were foreign citizens in Fiji on work permits.
It says after repeated breaches by both individuals of the provisions of Section 13 of the Immigration Act, their actions have clearly violated the terms of their work permits, resulting in their subsequent deportation.
The government says similar criteria have been applied to other foreign nationals in Fiji in the past and, as a sovereign nation, Fiji will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards any breaches of its immigration law.
It says there are thousands of foreign citizens on work permits in Fiji who conduct themselves and their business in line with the requirements of the Immigration Act while making invaluable contributions to Fiji's socio-economic development.
The government further says following recent amendments to Fiji's Immigration Act, foreign nationals can work and do business in Fiji more easily than ever, and Fiji will continue to welcome foreign nationals whose contributions, experience, and investments enrich the lives of the Fijian people.
The University of the South Pacific Students Association is demanding the government for a full explanation as to the circumstances and nature of the public risk that USP’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia posed while in Fiji.
USP SA Spokesperson, Aneet Kumar says they are now putting all their trust and support behind the special council of the USP that is sitting today and are confident natural justice will be accorded to Professor Ahluwalia.
Kumar says they will now await the direction of the USP Council.
Two student reps are part of USP Council meeting today.
National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, in his capacity as Minister for Immigration, should immediately rescind the deportation order of USP Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife.
Prasad says this deplorable action taken by the government will not be tolerated by all law abiding citizens as well as USP Member countries.
Prasad says the government is showing zero respect for the 50 years of work thousands of leaders, public servants, staff and students have done to make this the most successful South Pacific regional body.
He further says while they cry about climate change on the world stage, they work intentionally to destroy the institution that can drive progress and change in island countries through education.
The government has stated that the Fijian Immigration Department has ordered two foreign nationals, Pal Aluwahlia and his partner, Sandra Jane Price, to leave Fiji with immediate effect following continuous breaches by both individuals of Section 13 of the Immigration Act.
It says that under Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2003, no foreigner is permitted to conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of Fiji.
The government statement says Aluwahlia and Price were foreign citizens in Fiji on work permits.
It says after repeated breaches by both individuals of the provisions of Section 13 of the Immigration Act, their actions have clearly violated the terms of their work permits, resulting in their subsequent deportation.
The government says similar criteria have been applied to other foreign nationals in Fiji in the past and, as a sovereign nation, Fiji will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards any breaches of its immigration law.
It says there are thousands of foreign citizens on work permits in Fiji who conduct themselves and their business in line with the requirements of the Immigration Act while making invaluable contributions to Fiji's socio-economic development.
The government further says following recent amendments to Fiji's Immigration Act, foreign nationals can work and do business in Fiji more easily than ever, and Fiji will continue to welcome foreign nationals whose contributions, experience, and investments enrich the lives of the Fijian people.
Fiji Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has called for the deportation order against USP Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife to be rescinded and for them to be allowed back into the country while the Fijian government says Aluwahlia and his partner were ordered to leave Fiji with immediate effect following continuous breaches by both individuals of Section 13 of the Immigration Act.
Chaudhry says they strongly condemn the high handed manner in which Ahluwalia and his wife were arrested and deported.
He says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama must explain to a horrified nation, and the international community, why Ahluwalia had to be deported in this outrageous manner.
Chaudhry adds by no stretch of the imagination can Ahluwalia be considered to have “conducted himself in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security or good government of Fiji ” as stated in his deportation order.
He says in fact Ahluwalia stood for human rights, good governance and public morality when he exposed corrupt elements within the USP who were enriching themselves at the expense of the university adding that Ahluwalia was regarded as a role model and held in high esteem.
Chaudhry says Ahluwalia’s deportation was in fact a well-timed move to pre-empt a USP Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow which was to have decided the fate of the anti-VC elements within USP.
He adds he expects the USP Council to take a strong stance against what he terms a Gestapo-style behavior by the Fiji authorities.
Chaudhry says he also calls on Fiji’s development partners and the international community to take note of the despotic behavior of the Fijian government and strongly denounce such violations of human rights here.
In a statement the government says that under Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2003, no foreigner is permitted to conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of Fiji.
The government statement says Ahluwahlia and Price were foreign citizens in Fiji on work permits.
It says after repeated breaches by both individuals of the provisions of Section 13 of the Immigration Act, their actions have clearly violated the terms of their work permits, resulting in their subsequent deportation.
The government says similar criteria have been applied to other foreign nationals in Fiji in the past and, as a sovereign nation, Fiji will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards any breaches of its immigration law.
It says there are thousands of foreign citizens on work permits in Fiji who conduct themselves and their business in line with the requirements of the Immigration Act while making invaluable contributions to Fiji's socio-economic development.
The government further says following recent amendments to Fiji's Immigration Act, foreign nationals can work and do business in Fiji more easily than ever, and Fiji will continue to welcome foreign nationals whose contributions, experience, and investments enrich the lives of the Fijian people.
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