SUVA, Fiji – The Fiji Times is reporting that the United Nations has placed an immediate ban on deploying Fiji peacekeepers.  While Fiji peacekeepers will not be pulled out of any of their current positions, they will not be sent to any new locations.

The paper reports that a reliable source says that the directive was sent from UN Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon to the interim government, but had not yet been made public.  According to the source, the Secretary-General issued the directive because the Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the restoration of democracy in Fiji.

Interim Minister of Defence, National Security and Immigration, Ratu Epeli Ganilau denies receiving such a communication from the United Nations.  “If something like that was on the horizon, we would expect to hear it and not come in as a bang. It would come through my portfolio but I have not heard anything,” he said.

The struggle over Fiji’s role in international peacekeeping extends back to 2006, when then Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned Fiji that he would limit their involvement in future peacekeeping duties.

Fiji peacekeeping forces are currently serving with the Multinational Forces & Observers Sinai (MFO) and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times Online – No new mission for troops: UN – 15 December 2008

Pacific Magazine – Fiji Barred from New UN Peacekeeping Missions: Report – 15 December 2008

Radio New Zealand International – UN reportedly bans Fiji peacekeepers – 14 December 2008