In November 2006 Andrew Hughes, an Australian who was the Police Commissioner in Fiji rang The New Zealand Police Commissioner to see if any offence under New Zealand law existed for which the New Zealand Police could arrest Bainimarama while he was visiting the country. At the time it was reported that a request had been Read more
A call by a former President of the Fiji Methodist Church for soldiers not to obey the coup installed military government has been called hypocritical by an overseas democracy campaigner.
Reverend Josateki Koroi says that Christian soldiers in the Fiji Military Forces should carefully weigh up their religious obligations if ordered to shoot at people.
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Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama says the military respects the church and traditional leaders, and meant no disrespect when it took over leadership of the country in 2006. “Sega ni kena i naki ya me kalawaci na lotu, se na vanua se na turaga ni vanua (The purpose was not to overstep the church, the Read more
Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has told a high level meeting in the UN General Assembly that the Fiji government is dismantling all initiatives that institutionalise racial discrimination and encourage racism. He told the Assemby that the Fiji government is removing electoral provisions that were based on race because it has clearly divided the people Read more
Regional policy makers are reeling at the implications of a remarkable opinion poll that shows overwhelming public support in Fiji for Frank Bainimarama – widely regarded as a Pacific pariah for his 2006 coup and continuing refusal to bow to demands for an early election. The poll – commissioned by the independent Australian think tank, Read more
One of the people taking part in a panel discussion during the launch of the opinion poll was Shamima Ali from Fiji’s Women’s Crisis Centre. She expressed some scepticism about the results.
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The Sydney based Lowy Institute commissioned opinion poll, titled “Fiji at Home and in the World”, published in New Zealand on Wednesday to coincide with the Pacific Islands’ Forum Leader’s meeting shows Fiji’s coup leader scores high approval in the poll.
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A debate occurred on Radio Australia National on whether it’s in Australia’s national interest to continue shunning the Bainimarama regime. The debate featured Dr Jon Fraenkel who specialises in Melanesian affairs at the Australian National University and argues that Australia and New Zealand should refuse to engage with Bainimarama until he buckles. According to Grub Sheet “Fraenkel is part Read more
The interim Fijian Government says it expects Australia to respond positively to a request to extradite Ratu Tevita Mara. It may be disappointed because the Australian and New Zealand Governments appear see Mara as a credible figure around which to base a serious challenge to Commodore Bainimarama Mara began his campaign in Australia by invoking the mana of his father, Read more
Ratu Tevita Mara is looking at applying to live in New Zealand. He said he might make a formal application to seek asylum in New Zealand and was already in informal discussions. He says is also talking with people in other countries.Colonel Mara says he would also like his family to move to New Zealand with him. Colonel Read more