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Frank Bainimarama - Source: ONE News -
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The government has defied an ultimatum set by Fiji's self-appointed prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and is waiting to see whether he goes ahead with his threat to expel acting high commissioner Caroline McDonald.
Bainimarama told the government last week McDonald would be given her marching orders unless a visa was granted to a Fijian student who is the son of a senior official.
That would breach the travel sanctions imposed on Fiji after Bainimarama led the coup that overthrew the country's elected government two years ago.
On Tuesday he was told in a formal message that the visa would not be granted to George Nacewa, the son of Rupeni Nacewa, a secretary in the office of Fiji's president.
Soon after that Foreign Minister Murray McCully spoke by phone to Bainimarama.
"We are exchanging our views and trying to work our way forward," McCully told reporters.
"There's still work in progress and we'll see how it plays out. It could be a little while before we know the answer to that."
McCully says it is "quite possible" he will have further conversations with Bainimarama.
Bainimarama has used the visa case to escalate the row over travel sanctions, which have been increasingly irritating his regime.
He is also refusing to accept the credentials of new defence and police attaches the government wants to send to Suva.
McCully is trying to defuse the latest diplomatic row with Fiji.
"We've been trying to deal constructively with the issues, making sure New Zealand's point of view is understood," he says.
"I think New Zealand's position is understood. Whether it's thought to be agreeable from their point of view is another matter."
ONE News reported from Suva on Tuesday night that no announcement about McDonald had been made.
A Fijian government spokesman would not say whether a decision had been made about McDonald.
The spokesman said it seemed the travel sanctions were "getting a bit out of hand...when schoolchildren are affected".
George Nacewa was a student at Massey University until October, when his visa was not renewed and he was sent home.
If McDonald is expelled she will be the second New Zealand high commissioner to be thrown out by Bainimarama.
In June last year Mike Green was declared persona non grata after being accused of interfering in Fiji's domestic affairs.
The New Zealand Government vigorously rejected the accusation.
In a separate development, ONE News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver was detained when she arrived in Suva on Monday night and deported on Tuesday morning.
She says she was treated well during her night in a cell.
New Zealand officials were refused access to Dreaver, which
Prime Minister John Key says is "totally unacceptable".
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.