27 May 2009

Fiji group urges Forum countries to also apply travel ban

3:33 pm on 27 May 2009

The Australia-based Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement is calling on island countries in the Pacific to apply the same travel sanctions that New Zealand and Australia impose on Fiji.

Since the coup two and a half years ago the metropolitan countries have refused entry to people and families connected to the interim regime.

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement's President, Usaia Waqatairewa, says this travel ban is one of the most effective sanctions against the regime, forcing Commodore Frank Bainimarama, on his regular overseas trips, to island hop.

He says the island countries can made the sanction more effective.

"The guy is a rogue element, he has taken the country's leadership by force, and committed serious crime against the State and he should be punished for that. And that Smart Sanction will only work perfectly if the other island states also impose the same sanction."

Usaia Waqatairewa