Fiji hardens stance as NZ envoy expelled 

Source: ReutersRatu Epeli Nailatikau is sworn in as President of Fiji

New Zealand's Acting High Commissioner to Fiji Todd Cleaver was deported on Thursday night.

He was farewelled by ambassadors from other countries before he left.

Cleaver was put on a plane in Nadi and will be arriving in New Zealand on Thursday night.

He has been ordered not to speak to the media before he was debriefed by Foreign Affairs.

Cleaver will de-brief Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Auckland on Friday afternoon.

And in a new twist an academic has become the latest victim in the deteriorating relationship between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Professor Brij Lal says he was first interrogated and beaten by Fijian soldiers and then deported to Australia.

"Intense verbal abuse, foul language and explosive anger on the part of the officer interrogating me," Lal said of his experience.

Lal's crime was giving a radio interview on the military regime expelling the Australian and New Zealand envoys.

In another chapter in Fiji's history, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau who served 20 years in the army was made president - eliminating any doubt the military has taken over all areas of power.

As foreign minister, Ratue Epeli was responsible for throwing out New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green - the first of New Zealand's envoys to be deported.

Many Fijians like community leader Sunia Raitava are anxious about what the future holds for them.

"We've been expelled from the Commonwealth, we've been expelled from the Pacific Islands Forum," says Raitava.

It"s clear Commodore Bainimarama is consolidating his administration's power, but in doing so he is further isolating Fiji from the international community, with the US State Department now condemning Fiji's actions.