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Fiji expels High Commissioners for taped conversationWednesday, November 04, 2009
FBC News have confirmed that this information is a taped conversation between an Australian High Commission visa officer in Colombo and one Sri Lankan judicial officer applying to take up an appointment in the Fiji judiciary. Commodore Bainimarama told the reporters at a press conference yesterday: "I have told the minister of foreign affairs to issue communications to the Australian and New Zealand governments that their respective heads of missions are to be recalled within 24 hours. "I have also informed them our high commissioner (ambassador) in Australia is to be recalled with immediate effect.They misinform Canberra and Wellington and wage a negative campaign against the government and people of Fiji”. Commodore Bainimarama also made known, among other reasons, why he has decided to expel the two high commissioners. "Sri Lankan Judges who have been appointed in the Judiciary were told that they will not be able to travel through and to Australia because they have taken these positions, again when this matter was highlighted in the media by the Chief Justice there were denials that visas have been refused by the Australian high commissions, however we know, that one of the Sri Lankan Judge has the foresight to take the conversation and she was informed by the Australian officials in Colombo that travel sanctions will apply because she has taken a position in the Fiji Judiciary. The confirmation of this incident displays a consolidated effort to attract Fiji’s independence judiciary. It also shows that the Australian and New Zealand government has been dishonest and untruthful over the matter of travel bans for Judges". And the damning piece of evidence that the Prime Minister is referring to has been authenticated by FBC News to be the original conversation or the warnings given by the Australian visa officer to the Sri Lankan judicial officers over accepting appointments in Fiji’s judiciary. This phone conversation clearly indicates that the Australian government has been lying and dragging its feet over the issuance of transit visas to the Sri Lankans. “individuals appointed to the Fiji judiciary regardless of citizenship, become subject to these travel sanctions and that obviously include yourself and individuals affected by travel sanctions cannot be allowed to travel to or through Australia although the travel sanctions policy is applied (inaudible) and visa application is considered on a case by case basis. We also understand that New Zealand sanctions apply definitely to people (inaudible) to the Fiji judiciary. As I said this is just a courtesy call just to let you know of the Australian policy towards Fiji in terms of travel sanctions … Australia (inaudible) is that, you know, there are (inaudible) concern in the state of the Fiji’s judiciary. (Inaudible) of accepting judicial appointments, including the International Bar Association is chance that accepting a judicial appointment would be perceived that you’re condoning and supporting the military regime’s action. As I said, this is a decision for yourself as a person but as I have said, this is an advance warning of Australia’s travel sanctions”. The phone conversation that we’ve just seen is the basis, that the Prime Minister used to expel the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners last night. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation |
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