15 Aug 2006

Fiji's High Court to rule on Thursday on Fiji Labour Party row

10:05 am on 15 August 2006

The Suva High Court is expected to rule on Thursday whether it will stop the Fiji Labour Party from continuing with disciplinary action against five senior members.

The five have filed a writ challenging the right of the Labour leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, and party president, Jokapeci Koroi, to lay disciplinary charges.

The lawyer for the five, Hemendra Nagin, has told Radio Legend because the two officials do not have such powers, the charges laid are illegal and cannot be taken to the FLP's national council meeting.

The national council is planned to be held on Saturday.

The party row stems from a decision by cabinet ministers Krishna Datt and Poseci Bune, MPs Felix Anthony and Agni Deo Singh and former senator Dr Atu Emberson-Bain to challenge Mr Chaudhry's senate nominees and autocratic decision making style.