Australia upgrades travel advice for Fiji
Increasing tension between the Fijian Government and the nation’s military has resulted in the threat of a coup in Fiji increasing with Australia’s DFAT warning that the situation in Fiji could change without warning.
Following threats against the Government, Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilo announced the sacking of Commodore Frank Bainimarama yesterday on the advice of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, with senior military officers reportedly having refused to accept the Presidential decision.
As a result, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has reissued its travel advice for Fiji, which has been experiencing a tourism boom with many Australians visiting Fiji in preference to some Asian destinations, in particular Bali.
DFAT’s advice warns that the security situation in Fiji could worsen without warning and that threats made by the Fiji military forces against the Fiji government have increased tensions.
DFAT’s advice also urges travellers to avoid demonstrations, public gatherings and concentrations of military personnel, saying, “Such events could become catalysts for civil disorder.”
Military Leader Bainimarama had earlier this month threatened to force Mr Qarase to resign unless he dropped what were believed to be two contentious bills, including one offering amnesty to some of those involved in the 2000 coup, with senior military personnel calling on Prime Minister Qarase to stand down.
The Prime Minister has said that he will deal with the Fijian defence chief when the military leader returns from overseas, where he is visiting Fijian troops.
Report by The Mole – we will keep you fully appraised of this breaking news situation – check www.travelmole.com regularly.
John Alwyn-Jones
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