4 May 2012

Fiji rejects offer for partial lifting of travel sanctions

5:36 pm on 4 May 2012

The Fiji regime says it will not accept an offer by New Zealand and Australia to soften travel sanctions.

Fiji's Acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, told local radio this week that many people do not take up senior positions in the administration because of the travel bans imposed after the military coup.

Last month, the New Zealand foreign minister, Murray McCully, said the government was keen to promote a demilitarisation of the Fiji administration and would consider exempting civilians from the sanctions to replace soldiers in key posts.

After meeting the New Zealand and Australian foreign ministers in Suva this week, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum described the policy as ridiculous.

He has now told Fijilive that Fiji will continue on its path to a new future just as it has on its own accord.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum says it will do so regardless of the carrots offered or sticks brandished by those listening only to the voices of a select few individuals and organisations that are interested first with themselves and not wholly with Fijians.