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Frank Bainimarama - Source: ONE News -
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Fijian authorities may be left frustrated in their attempts to extradite a fugitive former officer in its military government who has taken sanctuary in Tonga.
Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Mara is currently under the protection of the Tongan royal family following an alleged attempt to overthrow Fiji's military government last week.
Fiji has issued a warrant for his arrest, but Dr Steven Ratuva from the Centre for Pacific Studies told ONE News they may end up waiting in vain.
"Most probably he won't be returned to Fiji," he said, which could be a concern for the whole region.
"It's the very first time that two countries with the forum are at loggerheads with each other where the military is involved."
New Zealand is keeping a close eye on developments, but both Prime Minister John Key and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Murray McCully said today they view the dispute as an issue for the two island nations.
The Tongan king is a close relative of Mara and Melino Maka from the Tongan advisory council said it is understandable why he would come to Maka's aid.
"If your whanau is in a different country and asks you for help, would you sit back or try and help?" he said on ONE News.
Maka said he did not think "It's going to turn into an all out war between the two neighbours."
Fiji has a much larger military than Tonga, but Tiny Graham from the New Zealand Defence Force said the Tongans are not to be underestimated.
He said they have a "very well equipped defence force", with platoons stationed in Afghanistan and the Soloman Islands.
New Zealand keeping a close watch
Murray McCully said the situation has the potential to "put a lot of tension in play in the region", and will be keeping a close eye on developments.
"It's a pretty unhelpful development in terms of stability of the region because it obviously locks a couple of countries that are very close and very significant in the region into a position of conflict for a time," McCully said.
"There's been a fair bit of tension between Tonga and Fiji in recent times&.but I think we should just work our way quietly thought it and not get ahead of ourselves at this stage."
He said he did not see any need at the moment to issue travel advice for New Zealanders in Fiji.
"Clearly things are evolving, we need to play a constructive role if that's called for, but there's nothing we can usefully do at this stage other than watch developments closely and hope all players in Fiji and Tonga play things carefully."
Mara was charged with mutiny after his alleged coup last week, but was helped to escape Fiji a few days ago by the Tongan navy.
The Fijian military has said he had no help from them, Fijian army Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga told Radio Tarana, Mara was helped by a civilian and the military played no part.
Fijian leader Frank Bainimarama told a press conference last night he takes strong exception to Tonga harbouring Mara.
He said Tonga's royal family is in conspiracy with a "self interested individual of a despicable nature".
Tongan Prime Minister reacts
But Lord Tu'ivakano, the Tongan Prime Minister, said his country is offended by the suggestion they are harbouring Ratu Mara.
"Tongan Judges are not subject to influence from either the King or His Ministers nor are they encouraged to pass judgments according to their political beliefs.
"It is an offensive breach of protocol purposely to infer, for
political gain, His Majesty's offer of hospitality to his kinsman
Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba as an offer of immunity," a statement
said.
He said Fiji's domestic affairs are its own and the Tongan
government has no interest "in bringing undue influence".
Lord Tu'ivakano said there are proper procedures and obligations governing applications for extradition orders. He said the Tongan government won't create any obstacles if such an order is placed before the court.
Mara's message against Fiji's regime, believed to have been filmed in Tonga, has been posted on YouTube.Mara's message against Fiji's regime, believed to have been filmed in Tonga, has been posted on YouTube.
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