Fiji swears-in President as academic ban fuels world press
Updated
As the world's media focused on the ejection of a leading locally-born academic from Fiji, the military regime swore-in its new President and former military man, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. Professor Brij Lal from the Australian National University was ordered to leave Fiji after criticising the actions of Commodore Frank Bainimarama's military regime. He did so in a series of media interviews - including one on Pacific Beat the morning before his arrest. Professor Lal is now back on Australian soil.
Presenter: Alexandra Kirk
Speaker: Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, President of Fiji; Professor Brij Lal, Australian National University; US State Department spokesman
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ALEXANDRA KIRK: It's business as usual in Fiji.
EPELI NAILATIKAU: I, Epeli Nailatikau, being appointed President, do swear that I will well and truly serve the republic of Fiji in the office of the President, so help me God.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: With Commodore Frank Bainimarama attending the swearing in of a new President, a former military chief.
EPELI NAILATIKAU: Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where hate rules, let me bring love.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: At the same time Fiji's High Commissioner was heading home to Suva. Flying the other way, an Australian academic, after being given 24 hours to leave the country of his birth.
An unrepentant Brij Lal is back on Australian soil and relieved to be here.
BRIJ LAL: First of all I want to say that I was really touched by the words a police officer spoke to me when my plane landed in Sydney; she said to me, "welcome home sir, we will protect you". Reassuring words that is beyond me to describes.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Australian National University professor, who's spent the past 30 years thinking and writing about Fiji, was taken into custody after speaking to Australian and New Zealand media about Fiji expelling the envoys of its two biggest pacific neighbours. He was kept in custody for three hours.
BRIJ LAL: Intense verbal abuse. Foul language and explosive anger on the part of the officer who was interrogating me. There was no physical assault, but I was told in no uncertain terms, that I had to leave the country within 24 hours voluntarily. They won't deport me, but there was no place for me in Fiji at the moment.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: He says he didn't fear for his personal safety.
BRIJ LAL: Not really. I mean in those circumstances one is always fearful, but my personal agony and difficulties are nothing compared to what is endured by the people of Fiji on a regular basis.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: Professor Brij Lal says his views about Fijian coups stretching back to 1987 are well known. He was ordered to leave after a series of interviews he did about Fiji's diplomatic expulsions, saying it was quote "hugely counterproductive for Fiji", "wouldn't solve Fiji's problems", that it would in fact "deepen Fiji's isolation" and "comes at a bad time for the struggling pacific nation".
The US State Department has condemned the expulsions, saying it deplores the action by Fiji's de facto government, pointing out the gravity of the situation because Australia chairs the Pacific Islands Forum.
STATE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE: These actions have undermined any opportunity for progress towards re-engagement and constructive dialogue with its neighbours.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: But there doesn't appear to be much of an appetite for further action.
AMERICAN REPORTER: The government Fiji expels diplomats from Australia and New Zealand and you care because…?
STATE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE: We care because we care about the restoration of democracy in Fiji.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: Brij Lal hopes his expulsion is just a temporary setback.
BRIJ LAL: And I was in fact there to begin a new book on the squatter settlements in Fiji, you know poverty and so on. I hope that when the, you know... emotions cool down that I will be able to go back and continue my research. I mean, first and foremost I'm a researcher. Thank you very much.
