NZ increases travel ban on Fiji’s officials
A report in New Zealand’s Dominion Post says that the New Zealand Government has taken aim at top appointees to Fiji’s state sector, applying extended sanctions in retaliation for the expulsion of high commissioner Michael Green.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has announced that a review of links with the Bainimarama regime would result in the visa ban being extended to cover everybody appointed since the December 5 coup to lead government departments and agencies or to sit on statutory boards; and also their immediate families.
Military personnel, coup leaders and members of the interim government are already banned, as is travel to New Zealand by national or club sports teams.
She also confirmed the ban would include transit visas through New Zealand.
A ban on Fijians seeking seasonal work in New Zealand would be extended to include those already in New Zealand for other reasons.
Contact at high level would require the permission of herself for ministers or that of Foreign Minister Winston Peters in the case of officials.
Miss Clark said the travel bans put pressure on Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and his supporters and made people “think twice” before supporting the regime.
There were no plans to replace Mr Green any time soon.
She also renewed her call for the United Nations not to use Fijian troops in peacekeeping missions – a significant income earner for the country.
Mr Peters said the interim government needed to show through actions – not just words – that it would undertake the steps necessary for a credible census and elections to be held within the time frames it had accepted.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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