By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s decision to expel Australia and New Zealand’s top diplomats has prompted the European Union to speak out.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama expelled Australia’s High Commissioner James Batley, as well as New Zealand’s envoy, pursuant to a memorandum issued by Fiji’s chief justice, Anthony Gates.

The memorandum criticized Australia’s policy aimed at preventing foreign justices from holding positions on Fiji’s court.

Several Sri Lankan judges and magistrates were unable to obtain transit visas from Australia and were thus prevented from taking up their assignments in Fiji. A similar incident occurred in New Zealand.

According to some, Gates’ statements were misleading.

Prior to this incident, Bainimarama threatened to take action against both nations regarding the travel bans, but without specifically referencing the Sri Lankan justices.

In response to Bainimarama’s decision to expel the diplomats from Fiji, the European Union issued a statement last Tuesday, encouraging Fiji to re-think its position.

The Swedish Presidency of the EU stated that the isolationist tendencies of Fiji’s military leader have led to deteriorating relations with the international community.

Further, the EU noted that “[b]y isolating itself, Fiji puts at risk the concerted efforts to bring about the return of rule of law and democracy”.

The countries of the Pacific region and Fiji must work together to prevent the country from encouraging additional negative developments.

The EU has also insisted that Bainimarama’s administration restore democratic rule to the tiny nation.

Australia and New Zealand have been the most outspoken in condemning the military leader’s rule.

Last May, the Pacific Islands Forum suspended Fiji’s membership after the Prime Minister refused to hold elections.

The military has occupied the country since December 2006, when Fiji’s leader ousted the elected government.

For more information, please see:
News.com.au – EU regrets Fiji expulsion of top envoys – 11 November 2009

ABC News – Fiji’s expulsion of envoy unwarranted – 09 November 2009

The Australian – Coup culture ‘risks starving people of Fiji – 09 November 2009

The Australian – Flawed memo behind Fiji’s decision to expel top Australian diplomats – 08 November 2009

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SYDNEY, Australia – Australia has approved the extradition of 88-year-old Australian citizen Charles Zentai, who is accused of killing a Jewish teenager in Hungary back in 1944 during World War II. Zentai now faces a war-crimes trial in Budapest, Hungary.

Zentai is accused of contributing to the torturing and killing Peter Balazs, who was 18 at the time of his death. Two other soldiers were jailed over the murder in the late 1940s.

Zentai immigrated to Australia in 1950, and has resided in Australia ever since.

The extradition request was first received from Hungary in 2005. Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor has now approved the extradition request. O’Connor expressed that Australia “takes war crimes seriously and will not be a haven for alleged criminals.”

O’Connor emphasized that Australia’s approval of extradition was not based on the guilt or innocence of Zentai. The decision was about “whether or not Mr. Zentai should be surrendered to Hungary in accordance with Australia’s extradition legislation and its international obligations.” O’Connor stressed the importance of cooperating effectively, on matters of justice, with countries around the world.

Hungarian authorities have two months to carry out the extradition. During these two months, Zentai can appeal against the decision.

Ernie Steiner, son of Zentai, seeks to apply for judicial review by the Federal Court. He vows to fight his father’s extradition to Hungary.

Steiner stated in an interview: “I would like the Hungarians to tell us how they could possibly give my father a fair trial in the absence of any living witnesses. It’s against the human rights conventions. [F]or anyone to receive a fair trial they must have the right of being able to cross-examine witnesses who made statements against them.”

Steiner hopes to take the case outside the narrow legal confines of extradition law by seeking judicial review. He argues that this would allow for a more fair trial and allow his father’s side to be heard.

Zentai denies that he was involved in the fatal killing in Budapest. He adds that he was not even in Hungary at the time of the murder.

Zentai worries that the situation in Hungary is “not the best,” and that Hungary is far from being a democratic country.

The allegations were brought by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization known for tracking down alleged Nazi war criminals. Zentai is listed among the Center’s 10 most wanted suspected former Nazi war criminals for participating in manhunts, persecution, and murder of Jews.

Spokesman for the Center, Efraim Zuroff, stated that he was “frustrated with Zentai’s contintued attempts to obstruct the case with irrelevant legal and technical challenges.”

Zuroff praised the extradition approval, calling it “a great day for Australia and Hungary, and for justice.”

For more information, please see:
Australia.to World News – Extradition of Alleged War Criminal Approved – 13 November 2009

Google News – Alleged war criminal to fight extradition from Australia – 13 November 2009

Yahoo News – Alleged war criminal to fight extradition from Australia – 13 November 2009

European Jewish Press – Australia approves extradition of ‘war criminal’ to Hungary – 12 November 2009

Haaretz – Australia approves extradition of accused Nazi war criminal to Hungary – 12 November 2009

M&G Asia Pacific – Australia to extradite alleged war criminal to Hungary – 12 November 2009