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ONE News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver - Source: ONE News -
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Tensions between New Zealand and Fiji have heightened further as Fiji deports ONE News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver and threatens to expel New Zealand's top diplomat there in the developing row over travel sanctions.
Dreaver has landed safely in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon after being detained at Fiji's Nadi Airport on Monday night.
She was detained while going through immigration and taken to barracks in Nadi by the name of Hotel Kennedy, which along with offering cheap backpackers accomodation has a secure facility with locks on the outside of the doors. Dreaver was there overnight and under guard.
It's understood that she was reasonably treated but she has been black-listed by the current admistration.
Dreaver had arrived in Fiji to cover the diplomatic standoff between New Zealand and Fiji, after the Fijian military threatened to expel acting New Zealand High Commissioner, Caroline McDonald.
"I came here to to a job and I'm leaving having not completed that job and that's really frustrating. My job as a journalist is to report on the news, not be the news so I'm finding it incredibly frustrating. But on another level ... sometimes safety has to take precedence and given some of what I've heard this morning it is a good idea that I come back on the plane," she says by phone from Nadi airport.
Prime Minister John Key says he could not understand why Dreaver was sent home and the refusal to allow officials to see her in detention was "totally unacceptable" and will be taken up with the regime on Tuesday.
Dreaver is the fourth New Zealand journalist to have been deported from Fiji.
What are your thoughts on Fiji's political situation? Comment below
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentrajnalu said on 2008-12-27 @ 12:16 NZDT: Report abusive post
We must encourage New Zealanders to stand with us. Passive non-violent resistance is the way. There are many people in the Fiji tourism industry that want to stand up for democracy but have been told not to upset the apple-cart. Ask NZ Travel wholesalers to put a hold on selling Fiji for the next 6 months to help pro-democracy advocates in Fiji. Tourism promoted in these times is just a profitable scam for the privileged few. Lets get the real Fiji back and return Fiji to democracy.
chrisd55 said on 2008-12-18 @ 18:32 NZDT: Report abusive post
Biased, maybe, misinformed NO-some Govt aid has been reinstated, "a reduced disbursement to allow for $5-6 million aid allocation for Fiji in 2007/8/09". Suggest you search nzaid.govt, and then also add all the NGO aid totals from NZ. May 08, Fiji still decries no increase in $25 million from Aus for this year saying"it looks like they are a bit slow in getting to know the rules, how things are done". Perhaps they should be looking to bully China to provide residency, travel, visa's, and study.
rambla said on 2008-12-17 @ 22:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
How exciting that obviously some kind of polling has been done to indicate that 75% of the population is in support of an illegal occupation- does this mean that now the tiny little island that is used for war fodder around the world by which ever nation will pay the most dollars is gearing up for an election? If not then lets keep the pressure on. Governments are representatives of the people of that land, not someone with an army/ego that likes to tell people what to do.
naiknii said on 2008-12-17 @ 21:00 NZDT: Report abusive post
Nz should start respecting other government like Fiji and stop the stick and carrot slogan. if we are not willing to co-operate than Fiji has something far better to achieve for her people. I believe Fiji imports more from NZ and guess more than its so called NZAID flag. Have a talk that benefits both and look back at our weak one sided mere politics naikniizzzzz
RegB said on 2008-12-16 @ 15:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
As a journo with over 40 years experience I find this deplorable! Especially when the alleged government refused access to Ms Dreaver! Is Fiji like Russia? Has the coup leader taken a leaf out of Putin's book? I think so - much to the chagrin of Pacific leaders nad the populous at large.