NZ expulsion from Fiji widens coup's impact
On Thursday the interim government of Fiji announced it was expelling New Zealand's high commissioner. Our Pacific Correspondent Campbell Cooney has been looking at the past few days in regional politics, and what it may mean for the future.

Since the coup last year, Fiji has had a somewhat fractious relationship with the outside world, with many of its traditional neighbours and trading partners making it clear the overthrow of an elected government was not going to get their support.

Many of those countries, especially New Zealand and Australia, have led the lobbying effort against Fiji's ruler and there is strong feeling that is the reason for this latest move.

In its statement announcing the expulsion of New Zealand high commissioner Michael Green, Fiji's interim government said he had been declared persona non grata because, despite numerous requests not to, he kept interfering in domestic issues.

Exactly which domestic issue has not been explained. Which has led many pundits and critics to come to the decision that the domestic issue in question is the coup itself.

Since the coup on December the fifth last year, Commodore Frank Bainimarama and his supporters have continually said the reasons for the coup and the country's path and timetable for a return to democratic rule is an issue for them alone. Therefore any sanctions, travel bans and restrictions should be lifted, and Fiji should be left to solve its own problems.

But since day one, Fiji's two big neighbours in the region, New Zealand and Australia, have led criticism, and calls for a return to democratic rule.

Mostly it's been the respective prime ministers and foreign ministers. But on their behalf the high commissioners of each have shared the feelings of their governments' with Fiji's media and civil society. Now one of them, in diplomatic terms, appears to have paid the price.

One question being asked is why New Zealand? The interim government is the only group who knows exactly why. But it's worth noting the situation in Fiji has been bigger news in New Zealand than anywhere else. Since the coup, what's happened since has received more coverage on radio, television and in newspapers in New Zealand than anywhere, as much a measure of just how much that country sees itself as part of the Pacific.

As well, in many ways, New Zealand has led the criticism and the international push for a return to democratic rule in Fiji. Its politicians have lobbied other countries to take a stand, and its representatives in the United Nations have been at the forefront of efforts to encourage it to rule on everything from the use of peacekeepers to the defence of the judiciary.

That said, right now many Pacific watchers are waiting to see if the purge of diplomatic posts in Fiji stops with New Zealand. And if it was criticism the interim government was trying to muzzle, that move's been an abject failure.

New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark, has made it clear Fiji's unlikely to like the response she has in mind. She's indicated that what diplomatic relations still existed prior to Thursday will be severely curtailed. What's more, Ms Clark says New Zealand will be reviewing the level of travel warnings.

Tourism is Fiji's biggest earner, and the coup has had a disastrous affect, with visitor numbers drastically reduced. The industry was hoping the lifting of the state of emergency at the end of May would see the warning level dropped. At least for New Zealand, Fiji's second biggest tourist market, that now seems highly unlikely.

Commodore Bainimarama has made it clear on more than one occasion he doesn't welcome criticism. Within Fiji the response to critics from him, and from the military, means voices of dissent are limited, anonymous or only heard behind closed doors. By their own admission, to ensure the safety of themselves, their staff and their families, self censorship is the byword in Fijian media and civil society circles. And while forcing one high commissioner out of his country may make others think twice about what they say, it won't silence the criticism of the international community.

It's made it clear that what's happening in Fiji right now is far from a domestic problem, best left to its citizens and leaders to solve on their own.

< back