The Fiji Government has revealed that the impending arrival of Fijian fugitive Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara into Australia shows concerted effort by the Australian Government to undermine the path towards holding a truly democratic election in Fiji.
Permanent Secretary for Information, Sharon Smith Johns said that the actions taken where after the recent fleeing from Fiji of Mara as a fugitive without a Fijian passport, the subsequent issue of Tongan passport to him and the willingness of the Australian Government and now New Zealand to grant a visa along with Tonga's inaction on extradition papers, all shows collusion and a disregard of legal extradition processes.
She added that it is evident that the Australia and New Zealand foreign policy towards Fiji has been a failure, highlighting a report by the Australian think tank “Lowy Institute” where many academics and political commentators proposed re-engagement with Fiji.
According to Smith-Johns, Mara, who claims to have been rescued while fishing by a Tongan Navy boat which happened to be in the area is clearly a lie, adding if a person is rescued at sea he will return home.
Mara has not, perhaps because Fiji is no longer home to him.
She has refuted the claim by Mara who said that he does not want to return to Fiji because of the absence of an independent judiciary, saying that if that was so, then government would win all its cases.
She also added that it is this same judiciary that independently granted him bail, just like other accused persons who are bailed pending trial.
The Government said that it is apparent that Mara, a fugitive, has taken advantage of Kevin Rudd and Muarry McCully's lack of foresight on Fiji and that Rudd and McCully, driven by their personal agenda, see Mara as someone who can give some form of credibility to their unfounded and misplaced assessment of Fiji.
Smith - Johns said that the extradition of any fugitive will be dealt with through the bi-lateral arrangements which are already in place.
She has stressed that as far as Fiji is concerned there is no Mara or Tonga/Fiji situation and unlike them the Fijian Government will follow all international law and protocols for the benefit of all Fijians and the rest of the Pacific Small Island States.
Story by: Paradise Tudrau
