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Re-entry of deported publisher ordered
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Posted on Jan 22 2001
PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Pina Nius) — Vanuatu’s Acting Chief Justice yesterday issued an interim order saying that the government should allow deported Vanuatu Trading Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones back into the country.
It came as local and international criticism of the early-morning deportation of Neil-Jones grew. The opposition said Neil-Jones had been about to publish details of a questionable deal involving the government.
Acting Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek issued an interim order for the government to allow Neil-Jones to enter, reside, and work in Vanuatu.
Two truckloads of police had arrived at Neil-Jones’ Port Vila house at 5:30 a.m. The police took him to the airport, and put him on a flight to Brisbane 30 minutes later. They would not allow him to pack clothes or even take his medication for diabetes, he said.
Vanuatu Trading Post lawyer John Malcolm immediately appealed to the Supreme Court.
Neil-Jones told PINA Nius Online from Brisbane that he would attempt to reenter Vanuatu on a Sunday flight from Brisbane.
Prime Minister Barak Sope’s Government has recently been embarrassed by a series of investigative reports by Neil-Jones revealing details about overseas businessmen with whom it is involved.
Neil-Jones, who is originally from Britain, arrived in Port Vila 11 years ago from Papua New Guinea, where he had worked an executive with the Word Publishing newspaper group. He established the Vanuatu Trading Post in partnership with local investors at a time when Vanuatu had no non-government news media.
Opposition leader Edward Natapei condemned his deportation as illegal, undemocratic and dictatorial.
He said the real reason for the deportation was that Neil-Jones was about to break news on a highly questionable deal between the government and an Asian businessman.
Natapei said transparency by the government is one of the fundamental principles of Vanuatu’s Comprehensive Reform Program.
Vanuatu’s Ombudsman Hannington Alatoa also protested against the deportation, saying it appears the government acted illegally and may have breached Neil-Jones’ constitutional rights.
