By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji– Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has said Fiji’s interim government will not be deterred no matter how cruel travel sanctions are to Fiji’s poor, young and innocent. If the sanctions remain Bainimarama said his government will continue with their agenda. Since the interim government seized power in 2006 the agenda has been to, “bring peace, durable stability and progress to Fiji.” He told the foreign ministers from Australia and New Zealand this while urging their countries to life their “arbitrary travel bans.”
When discussing the bans Bainimarama said, “These sanctions have been harsh in their impact on us.” He went on to say, “they have restricted the participation in Government from the pool of competent and non-political, and non-Military, Fiji people who are ready to take on appointments to serve on key institutions of the State including Government-owned entities and statutory bodies. As a result, the nation as a whole is suffering and our efforts at service delivery and removal of corruption are being hindered.”
Bainimarama also highlighted the impact on education opportunities and bans on Fiji’s mens and womens sports teams. He said, “I therefore appeal to you to re-examine the travel sanctions policy; and I urge you to use your influence to constructively assist Fiji, in more concrete ways, to help us move forward and to find durable solutions to our entrenched problems.”
New Zealand foreign minister Murray McCully and Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith said before the meeting with Bainimarama that their policies remain.
Bainimarama responded, “The Fiji Missions of both of these countries now only engage with those who are in opposition to the interim Government. The two missions, by and large, do not engage with the Government at all.”
For more information, please see:
Fijilive – Travel ban forces state CEO out – 13 December 2008
Islands Business – Sanctions won’t stop us, says Bainimarama – 12 December 2008
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s interim Prime Minister says interim government won’t be deterred – 12 December 2008
