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Murray McCully - Source: ONE News -
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New Zealanders are being told to think twice about visiting Fiji.
Foreign Affairs and Trade has upgraded its travel advice for Fiji following the country's president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, sacking the judges, dissolving the constitution, ruling out any election for five years and briefly removing Commodore Frank Bainimarama before re-appointing him as prime minister.
Local and foreign media are being censored and papers are no longer covering political events.
The events were prompted by a Court of Appeal ruling last Thursday that Bainimarama's regime, in power since staging a 2006 coup, was illegal under the country's 1997 constitution.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully has raised the possibility of restricting New Zealanders' ability to travel to Fiji.
"Effectively the regime is sort of doing that at the moment by making it a much less desirable place to go to".
But McCully says the New Zealand government "is always reluctant to do anything that's going to curtail the liberties of its citizens."
He urged New Zealanders to think twice about holidaying in Fiji.
"I'd say to New Zealanders, think carefully about whether you need to go there." says McCully.
Bainimarama's re-appointment a "sham"
McCully says the re-appointment of Bainimarama as Fiji's interim Prime Minister is a sham and shares his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith's description of the situation in Fiji as a dictatorship.
"The extent to which the Commodore seems prepared to go to entrench himself and the military in power is unsettling.
"Abrogating the constitution, dismissing judges and now introducing emergency measures that curb the media and deny citizens freedom of political expression is a sorry recipe that has been tried by dictators in a number of other countries, always with tragic consequences," McCully says.
New Zealand will consider its response over the next few days after consulting Pacific Islands Forum nations and the Commonwealth.
McCully told Radio New Zealand that it is important to "get the line right" on sanctions between sending a strong signal and hurting citizens.
"There are some other things that can be done but they all involve difficult judgments about impacting on the ability of people to trade and to travel."
He noted there was no trade sanction right now. Sanctions mainly focus on the ability of members of the regime to travel here.
"It's not under consideration yet but we'll be talking to the forum and other countries, particularly Australia and PNG over the next 24 hours."
On TVNZs Breakfast programme Labour leader Phil Goff said politicians are reluctant to impose economic sanctions.
"Most of us are reluctant to see sanctions that would hurt the ordinary people in Fiji that are not responsible for this government," says Goff.
He agreed with McCully that international bodies are likely to take action.
"Almost certainly the Commonwealth will suspend Fiji entirely from the Commonwealth ... that's an automatic process, I'd be very surprised if the Pacific Islands Forum didn't do the same. We've already heard harsh words from the United Nations," says Goff.
Other countries may follow New Zealand's stance of redirecting any development assistance through agencies rather than the government, Goff said.
"The pressure that can be bought on Fuiji could be through ther development assistance that countries would be giving to the government."
Click here for the latest travel advisories on Fiji.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentvaingloriouscoconut said on 2009-04-28 @ 23:37 NZDT: Report abusive post
Like a jedi knight said at the beginning of a certain movie, the whole crisis doesn't make sense. A phantom menace at work? Whoever stands to gain most from this charade are 'the Sith'. Alot of noble talk generating alot of thuggery. Judge by effects, and actions beloved Fijians - not by intentions and words. Time will reveal all.
UP2DATE said on 2009-04-28 @ 19:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
The UN is a joke. Sorry Fiji. The Commodore is a total dictator. Only the Fijian people can change this. It is time to stand up to this madness. Good luck.
Mark Manning said on 2009-04-23 @ 13:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Commander is hiding from allegations of and an investigation into , his and others , alleged involvement into the murders of 5 Counter Revolutionary Warfare Soldiers in 2000 . At that time of the civil unrest , some soldiers justified murder of these men by declaring them an act of war and thought that assertion would protect them from prosecution . However , one of those murdered , wasn't even in the vicinity of the camp at the time of the killings of the soldiers in the camp .
Udreudre said on 2009-04-18 @ 18:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
Bula Vinaka, just my comment on media. Actually the news now is much better. Before so much headache. Eg the move to get retirement age to 55. Oilei! If were in Fiji 2 months ago, you will know what I mean. As soon as the news was aired, 5 more related news: the unions, the politicians, close up show. Really very stressful. Our own version of Shortland Street was Fiji one news. Very entertaining but stressful. Even at night, we think, this and that, but now, no more. Only news not noise.
Udreudre said on 2009-04-18 @ 11:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
Actually, our beloved country can survive without aid money. we have land, sea, only thing is we get very relaxed. If we work hard and become independant, we will benefit. I am a landowner and personally if we dont get tourists, it will be good. They bring in their evilways. we have a population of 800,000, yet the tourist number is 600,000 per year!. They may be working as cleaners or maids but they come here and are treated like royalty. My children dont have to be slaves to the tourists.