Australia considers further Fiji sanctions

4 Nov 2009, 7:52 am   -   Source: AAP
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Fiji has been warned it risks further isolation after ordering the top diplomats from Australia and NZ out of the country within 24 hours.

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Fiji has been warned it risks further isolation from the global community after ordering the top diplomats from Australia and New Zealand out of the country within 24 hours.

Both Australia and New Zealand haven't ruled out retaliating and are considering further sanctions against Fiji, in what threatens to deepen ongoing tensions in the Pacific.

Self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, the military leader who has ruled Fiji since a December 2006 coup, has given both governments a day to recall their envoys, in a spat over travel visas.

He's accused the two countries of sabotaging nation-building efforts by refusing to grant visas to Fiji judges - or what he calls "a consolidated effort to attack Fiji's independent judiciary".

One High Court judge was initially denied a visa to New Zealand, while Australia vetoed travel for several Sri Lankan judges bound for the Fijian judiciary.

Both countries have defended travel restrictions for those connected to the Fiji regime.

But to punish members of the Fiji judiciary was shameful, and sought to undermine the system, Commodore Bainimarama said.

He sent word to the Australian and New Zealand governments on Tuesday to have their envoys recalled from Fiji within 24 hours, while Fiji's high commissioner in Australia has been recalled, effective immediately.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the move to expel High Commissioner James Batley was deeply concerning, and warned the government was carefully considering its response.

He, along with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully, expect to formally announce their plans once receiving the official notice from Fiji on the expulsions early on Wednesday (Australian time).

"Australia will give careful consideration to the question of possible further measures against the Fiji regime," the government said. But it would be a proportionate response, Mr Smith told ABC Television on Tuesday night, while ruling out any tit-for-tat exchanges.

It is the first time Australia's top diplomat has been shown the door in Fiji, although it is the fourth time New Zealand's top-ranking official has been expelled.

"We're gravely concerned (about) Fiji's continual withdrawal from the international community," Mr Smith said.

"Cdre Bainimarama has chosen to go down this path - it's most regrettable - and in a matter of minutes and hours, rather than hours and days, I will announce what Australia's response to this action is."

Mr Smith said it was a substantial setback in the way forward for Fiji, which lost its democratically elected government in 2006 following a bloodless coup led by Cdre Bainimarama. 

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