Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Affairs, Richard Marles, was recently interviewed about the relationship between Australia and Fiji. He said that Australia’s beef is not with the the Fiji people, “in fact quite the opposite. We want to stand with the people of Fiji in what is a very difficult time for them.” He said Australia took issue Read more
Tevita Mara gets 2 days in New Zealand “to tell his story”. However John Key says that New Zealand is “taking quite a cautious view.” While Australia has removed Mara permanently from its travel ban list, Key said, “We have no intention of doing that at this stage.” “It will be an opportunity for New Zealand Ministry 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
Why did Mara flee? Ratu Tevita Mara himself said he fled because he had witnessed from the inside how power had corrupted and how the main players had forgotten their original objectives. He has criticised Fiji’s attorney general, saying he is the real power behind a “morally and intellectually bankrupt” Commodore Bainimarama. Why did Mara flee? Crosbie Walsh says: Forget Read more