NEW ZEALAND: Fiji travel bans not inconsistent
Updated
New Zealand's Foreign Minister says its policy on Fiji travel bans is not inconsistent and will remain in place until democracy is restored. Winston Peters says their approach to the ban remains the same, personnel in the military regime and their families are not allowed in.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speakers: Winston Peters, New Zealand Foreign Minister.
PETERS: No it's not inconsistent and more importantly the Fijian interim government and its leading officials know full well what the travel ban is about, what its criteria is and the fact that they are pushing the limits now and again and asking for sort of personal decisions out of New Zealand is not really the issue. The issue is that these sanctions were warned, were pre-advised before the coup happened, they're in place now and that's where they'll stay until we see a pathway through to democracy and legitimate elections.
COUTTS: One of the questions being asked is why was the interim education minister Netani Sukanaivalu allowed in whereas some of the sporting stars were not, and they both have links to the Fiji regime?
PETERS: Well the answer to that is that we are not going to penalise regional organisations that are designed to advance the human developments of Fijians and the wider region with these sanctions, that was not our objective. Our objective was to bring home the consequences to the interim government and its leading officials. He's not one of them.
COUTTS: Well a soccer player and a netball player were disallowed from coming in and yet the President of the Fiji Netball Alice Tabete with family ties and connection to the Fiji military has been allowed and seems to be given political asylum in New Zealand at the moment?
PETERS: Well first of all the soccer player didn't know whether he was married or not married, I don't know if you've seen the circumstances about that. He didn't know he was connected or not connected to the regime, so there's no sort of song and dance about that now when people have got behind the original application. And on the netball player, well she didn't fit the criteria and we have no international obligations with respect to worldwide sporting arrangements for which we have virtually contractual obligations. She didn't fit the criteria and there's nothing inconsistent about that at all.
COUTTS: Some leaders have sent their congratulations to Prime Minister-elect of Australia Kevin Rudd, and there is a sentiment of hope be attached to that I think with Fiji, Solomon Islands and PNG that there'll be a softening of approach by the Labor government. Is there also an anticipated softening of approach now that Labor is in with New Zealand on the travel sanctions?
PETERS: Look it's not for me to say what the new government of Australia will do. I would like to say I would be astonished if there was a softening to their approach.
COUTTS: Can we just get an update on New Zealand citizen Ballu Khan, he is still a person of interest to the Fiji authorities. What about his status and the request to have him evacuated to New Zealand on medical grounds?
PETERS: Well the interim government and the people who have supposedly been implementing law and order and legal systems in Fiji will not allow that. That's been our request, we believe he should be given a thorough medical examination in New Zealand or in Australia, but we can't do that without getting him to New Zealand.
COUTTS: Are the New Zealand consulate officials getting better access to him now?
PETERS: Yes they are and have been for some time.
COUTTS: So what are you hoping, is pressure being put on them to lay charges or let him go?
PETERS: Well again let's just go back one step; that's the reason why we have smart sanctions because somebody picked up in the circumstances that he was picked up should never ever have been brutalised in the way he has been. And we don't know how serious but that's why we have these sanctions before some soft-headedness begins to criticise New Zealand and Australia on this matter. Now on this other question we just have to wait and see and do the best we can. We know he's got first rate legal advice, but that's where things stand at this point in time.
