Fiji’s Prime Minister asks Australia for military help but Australia says no.
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase called John Howard today as the Fiji leader remained holed up in his Suva residence while troops, led by renegade military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama, took control of the city.
Mr Howard told reporters, “I should inform you that this morning the prime minister of Fiji rang me and asked for Australian military intervention in response to the coup”. “I indicated to him that that would not be possible.” “We have previously communicated our position in that.” “I did not think it was in Australia’s interest to become involved.”
Meanwhile, Australians in Suva are being warned to leave the Fijian capital where troops appear set to arrest the Prime Minister, with the Department of Foreign Affairs urging Australians to reconsider any plans to travel to the Pacific nation saying its security could deteriorate without warning.
The Department says any Australians who remain in Suva should avoid all government buildings, military installations and concentrations of military personnel and keep their movements around the city to a minimum.
The Australian government allowed dependants of Australian High Commission staff to leave Suva last week.
This morning armed Fiji soldiers moved into downtown Suva this morning and the military began seizing government ministers’ vehicles, continuing what appears to be the first stages of a coup.
Soldiers are manning checkpoints and guarding roads around government offices and other key facilities in the Fijian capital.
At 6.30am (0530 AEDT,) about 20 soldiers in battle kit were positioned near roads bordering the old parliament complex, which houses offices of the prime minister and cabinet ministers.
Military checkpoints have been set up nearby on other roads leading to the complex.
Fiji commercial radio reported that soldiers earlier today removed two government vehicles used by ministers from the car park in the compound.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive