ID :
205824
Wed, 09/07/2011 - 14:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/205824
The shortlink copeid
Cracks emerge in Pacific stance on Fiji
SYDNEY (AAP) - 07 Sept - Australia and New Zealand's tough love stance on Fiji is coming under increasing strain, as a Pacific leader broke ranks to admit he and others want the regional "bad boy" back in the fold.
Cracks have started to show in the Pacific Islands Forum's united front on the military dictatorship on day one of the annual meeting, being held in Auckland.
Adding to pressures was a new poll by Sydney think-tank the Lowy Institute revealing Fijians themselves disagree with the approach taken by the regional superpowers and want to see sanctions against the nation dropped.
Fiji has been suspended from the forum since 2009 but military strongman Frank Bainimarama and his government have still managed to dominate the agenda ahead of climate change and economic development.
Forum host, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, tried to present a united voice at the meeting, saying leaders agreed Fiji had not yet proven it deserved forum membership.
But his words were contradicted by Kiribati President Anote Tong who gave a powerful talk saying he and others want Fiji back in but have been too scared to say so.
"I spoke to my federal leaders and I said if we have six children and one is a bad young boy what do you do with him?" Mr Tong said.
"Do you kick him out? You don't. You never do because we're a family and we must act like a family."
Asked if he will fight to lift suspension, Mr Tong said: "Yes, I think I will quite frankly because it's not Fiji. The people of Fiji don't deserve to be sanctioned."
He also indicated support from several other states, adding "they wouldn't say it".
The admission backs up reports last week that nine nations met in Nadi and agreed to Commodore Bainimarama's decision to delay elections until 2014.
It is a bold move from a Pacific state, and an embarrassment for Australia and New Zealand which have both been steadfast in their views that sanctions must remain and the suspension is well supported.
Asked about the apparent split in views on Wednesday, Mr Key used the same family metaphor with a different message.
"It's important to recognise we're a family of nations here in the Pacific and when one of our family members is excluded... then all of those leaders are distressed by it," Mr Key said.
He dismissed Mr Tong's words as "simply expressing the concern that Fiji is an important economy in this part of the world" and denied he was strong-arming leaders into siding with New Zealand and Australia.
"I don't think you can make the case that we are trying to suppress the issue," Mr Key said.
"We've raised it in every bilateral meeting we've had and the consensus is that we're in the right place at this time."
The Lowy poll suggested Mr Tong's view may be shared by Fijians themselves. It showed that:
* Two thirds of Fijians approve of Cmdre Bainimarama's leadership;
* 63 per cent disagree with the Australian approach to Fiji;
* 81 per cent think the Australian government should lift its travel sanctions and re-establish normal relations with Fiji.
Cracks have started to show in the Pacific Islands Forum's united front on the military dictatorship on day one of the annual meeting, being held in Auckland.
Adding to pressures was a new poll by Sydney think-tank the Lowy Institute revealing Fijians themselves disagree with the approach taken by the regional superpowers and want to see sanctions against the nation dropped.
Fiji has been suspended from the forum since 2009 but military strongman Frank Bainimarama and his government have still managed to dominate the agenda ahead of climate change and economic development.
Forum host, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, tried to present a united voice at the meeting, saying leaders agreed Fiji had not yet proven it deserved forum membership.
But his words were contradicted by Kiribati President Anote Tong who gave a powerful talk saying he and others want Fiji back in but have been too scared to say so.
"I spoke to my federal leaders and I said if we have six children and one is a bad young boy what do you do with him?" Mr Tong said.
"Do you kick him out? You don't. You never do because we're a family and we must act like a family."
Asked if he will fight to lift suspension, Mr Tong said: "Yes, I think I will quite frankly because it's not Fiji. The people of Fiji don't deserve to be sanctioned."
He also indicated support from several other states, adding "they wouldn't say it".
The admission backs up reports last week that nine nations met in Nadi and agreed to Commodore Bainimarama's decision to delay elections until 2014.
It is a bold move from a Pacific state, and an embarrassment for Australia and New Zealand which have both been steadfast in their views that sanctions must remain and the suspension is well supported.
Asked about the apparent split in views on Wednesday, Mr Key used the same family metaphor with a different message.
"It's important to recognise we're a family of nations here in the Pacific and when one of our family members is excluded... then all of those leaders are distressed by it," Mr Key said.
He dismissed Mr Tong's words as "simply expressing the concern that Fiji is an important economy in this part of the world" and denied he was strong-arming leaders into siding with New Zealand and Australia.
"I don't think you can make the case that we are trying to suppress the issue," Mr Key said.
"We've raised it in every bilateral meeting we've had and the consensus is that we're in the right place at this time."
The Lowy poll suggested Mr Tong's view may be shared by Fijians themselves. It showed that:
* Two thirds of Fijians approve of Cmdre Bainimarama's leadership;
* 63 per cent disagree with the Australian approach to Fiji;
* 81 per cent think the Australian government should lift its travel sanctions and re-establish normal relations with Fiji.
