Defence lawyer Kevueli Tunidau said yesterday that the signatures on the Uluda Declaration documents were witnessed by the accused persons but not declared.

He made the remarks at the trial of 16 people charged with sedition in connection with the alleged setting up of the Ra Christian State at the Lautoka High Court.

Mr Tunidau said there were no names of chiefs, sub chiefs or names of any person written in the Uluda Declaration.

Mr Tunidau was speaking during the cross examination of the 11th state witness Loraini Seru.

He told the court that the Uluda Declaration had signatures and one could not witness his or her own signature but they could only witness a declaration which in this case had no declarants.

He said that the accused people were just confirming the declaration which he said was written and declared by the four paramount chiefs namely Ratu Epeli Niudamu, Ratu Meli Bolobolo, Sereima Adidave Rokodi and Sailasa Wairoaroa Malani.

He told the court that a person could not witness his or her own signature and said that the accused people were mere witnesses of the declaration.

State Witness Ms Seru said she disagreed with this as this was wrong interpretation of the document and the signatures on Pages Eight and Nine referred to those who had signed and declared the document.

She also told the court that Tui Nalawa was the first person who was shown the Uluda Declaration during the interview.

Cross examination of the state witness Ms Seru also revealed that a 44-page Ra Provincial Declaration was seized from Ulaiyasi Tuivomo, the 14th accused.

Mr Tunidau then asked Ms Seru about where the document was as it was never disclosed.

Ms Seru told the court that the investigating officer had not handed over the 44-page Ra Provincial Declaration document but had exhibited the document.

It was also shown in court that Mosese Nakoroi, a defence witness had written a letter in regard to the Ra sedition case.

The court also heard that Mr Nakoroi was the chief administrator of Ra and had written in a letter that Ratu Epeli Niudamu was against the formation of the Ra Sovereign Christian State.

Mr Nakoroi had mentioned this as he had minutes of the meeting which took place on December 2, 2014, during the Ra Provincial Council Meeting.

State lawyer Lee Burney requested the court if Mr Nakoroi could be presented in the court so that he could tell the whole story about the Ra Provincial Council Meeting which occurred in 2014.

Judge Justice Aruna Aluthge then told defence to present Mr Nakoroi in court as the defence witness.

The 16 accused are: Ratu Epeli Niudamu, Sailasa Malani, Sereima Rokodi, Nanise Nagusuca, Waisea Duailima, Isikeli Kabakoro, Laisiasa Mocevakaca, Emosi Toga, Waisake Racaca, Samuela Ligabalavu, Mikaele Gonerara, Josefa Natau, Sulueti Waqalala, Ulaiyasi Rabua Tuivomo, Apolosi Qalilawa and Ilisapeci Natau.

The trial resumes on Monday. All have pleaded not guilty.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

Feedback:  kathrin.krishna@fijisun.com.fj