BUSINESSWOMAN and pro-democracry activist Laisa Digitaki has been stopped from leaving the country by Immigration officers.
She was surprised when called aside by Immigration officials at Nadi International Airport and told that her name was on the travel-ban list.
Ms Digitaki questioned Immigration authorities why she was not allowed to fly out of the country with her daughter Natasha on Air Pacific to Sydney yesterday.
"The last time I travelled was in May and now I am told I cannot leave the country," she said.
Ms Digitaki said she and her daughter were made to feel like fugitives when they were pulled aside.
"I feel sorry for my daughter who had to go through this experience," she said. "I thought my being stopped had something to do with my case earlier but that was quashed by the court.
"The interim administration's travel ban is not working. By stopping civilians from travelling they are sending out the wrong message to the rest of the world. What I want to know is what wrong have I done.
"The so-called people they say they are trying to protect are a lie and as far as I'm concerned, the public emergency regulation is still intact despite them saying it has been lifted."
Ms Digitaki said she did not know why some civilians were not allowed the freedom of movement.
Immigration Director Commander Viliame Naupoto said Ms Digitaki was banned from leaving the country.
He said he advised her where she could get clearance from. He said he would not disclose why Ms Digitaki was stopped from leaving the country but said she was on the travel ban list.
"Laisa is on the travel ban list but I cannot disclose what for as I am only following instructions handed down to me," he said. "I don't decide who gets put on the travel list and who gets taken off it. I only receive directives and follow them out."
Ms Digitaki was among a group of pro-democracy activists who were charged for publicly protesting against the military takeover.
The courts recently dismissed the charges against the group after the Director of Public Prosecutions Office found that there was insufficient evidence to make the charge stick.
Ms Digitaki, who was among the first to be taken to the military barracks, had even turned one of her properties into a democracy shrine.
