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Diplomatic Row Shows Cracks in Fiji Regime
A diplomatic row is building amongst Pacific nations over the defection of a high level military commander from Fiji to Tonga. The former Fijian commander is proposing a plan for democracy in Fiji, a move the Samoan Prime Minister has also publicly supported.
Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara, as Fiji’s Royal Military Force chief of staff, was the fourth highest military officer in Fiji when he began to criticise the rule of Commodore Frank (Voreqe) Bainimarama.
Under the threat of arrest for attempts to overthrow the government, Colonel Mara, the son of former Fiji president Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, fled to an outer island where he was “rescued’ by a Tongan navy patrol boat, who claimed they were responding to a distress call, AAP reported.
Tonga’s support of Ratu Mara, who has family connections to the island kingdom, has enraged Commodore Bainimarama who accused Tonga of an “illegal extraction” and meddling in Fiji’s affairs.
“The Fijian government takes strong exception to such breaches of Fiji’s sovereignty,” said Commodore Bainimarama in a statement. Fiji is seeking Ratu Mara’s extradition from Tonga.
Tonga’s prime minister, Lord Tu’ivakano, says Tonga has no interest in interfering in Fiji’s domestic affairs, but did not respond to calls for Mr Mara’s extradition.
“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”, he said, reported AAP.
Democracy Movement
While Fiji is seeking Ratu Mara’s extradition, the former Lt. Colonel has now arrived in Australia after the Australian Government lifted a travel ban in place for members of the Fijian military and government.
Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, confirmed that the travel ban was still in place for Fijian officials but said Ratu Mara had been decommissioned form the Fijian military, had clearly dissociated himself from the Fijian Government and had applied for a visa under a Tongan passport.
“On those grounds, we thought it appropriate for him no longer to be captured by those travel sanctions and in those circumstances there was no reason not to grant him a visa,” he told Radio Australia.
While in Australia the Lt. Colonel reportedly took part in a forum for democracy in Queanbeyan just outside Canberra.
Colonel Mara had earlier been a supporter of Commodore Bainimarama and had willingly participated in the Commodore’s 2006 military coup.
However he told ABC International’s Australia Network that he now regretted his actions.
“I now know that a military coup can never be justified under any circumstances. In 2006, I failed to understand that,” he said.
At the Queannbeyan forum a group was formed calling themselves the Fiji Democracy Movement.
According to the Australia Network the group has released a plan of action for democracy in Fiji which includes holding elections, ending censorship and removing the military from government.
Samoan Support
While in Canberra, Colonel Maru also met visiting Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Speaking on Radio National, Mr Tuilaepa said he supported moves to restore democracy in Fiji and was happy to support Colonel Maru.
“I believe, and still believe, that the Fijians will eventually solve the problem and I think this is one of the processes towards that solution and I sincerely hope that when it comes, that it comes peacefully,” he said. “What I hear from Tevita (Mara) seems to suggest that, as it happens in dictatorships, eventually common sense will prevail.”
While Colonel Maru admitted on Scoop Radio in New Zealand that he too had been part of the coup and, like everyone else, would ultimately have to face charges, Mr Tuilaepa said it was not possible under the present regime in Fiji.
“There is no democracy in Fiji and I cannot believe that justice as we know it can be meted out.
“So when we talk about Tevita going back and face justice that means justice when the proper political system of democracy exists in Fiji. I don’t think he will get a fair hearing now.”
He said he was not surprised to hear that life in Fiji was deteriorating.
{etRelated 41767, 39425}“It is causing havoc, the treasury is empty and the government is extending its illegal activities into the use of national provident fund,” he said.
Lack of funds for Commodore Bainimarama was a driving force, he said, suggesting there should be stronger sanctions on the island nation.
“That is why the Commodore has been trying to travel overseas to try and see if there are governments that may extend credit to pay for the military, because so far as he has money to pay for the military, he’s OK,” Mr Tuilaepa said.
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