Fiji PM lashes out at ‘arrogant’ McKinnon

Suva (The Fiji Times/PINA Nius Online) – Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase hit out at Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon for what he called a biased and arrogant statement against Fiji.

And Cabinet has directed Fiji’s High Commission in London to lodge a strong diplomatic protest with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.

“McKinnon’s reported disparaging remarks, referring to Fijians as “kids”, are unbecoming of the top senior official of the Commonwealth of which he is the servant of the member countries,” said a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office.

It followed comments McKinnon made at a Commonwealth senior officials’ meeting in Apia, Samoa. Fiji is currently suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth following the 19 May coup by indigenous Fijian gunmen and was not represented at the Apia meeting.

Mr. Qarase was responding to reports of this in the local media in which Mr. McKinnon had labeled Fijians as “kids” in the context of the current situation in Fiji.

Mr. Qarase’s statement said: “If this is how he regards indigenous Fijians on their concern about their political future in a country in which they have been marginalized in economic and social development opportunities and benefits, then clearly McKinnon is not suitable to be advising the Commonwealth on how it could assist Fiji in laying the foundation for long term peace and security in its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society.

“McKinnon has been blinded by his own condescending attitude to be neutral, impartial and helpful on the resolution of the political situation in Fiji.

“What is most unfortunate about the whole incident is that as a New Zealander, McKinnon, of all people, should have shown a better understanding and appreciation of the concerns and aspirations of the indigenous Fijians in the only country in the world they can call their homeland.

“It would seem that McKinnon is more interested in appeasing and placating the bigger members of the Commonwealth than showing the courage to fully inform them of the sensitivity and complexity of the situation in Fiji.

“McKinnon owes an apology to the Fijian people and he should explain himself to all Commonwealth member countries.

“The Cabinet has today directed Fiji’s High Commissioner in London to lodge a strong diplomatic protest with the Commonwealth Secretariat and with the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).”

The Prime Minister said he will also be communicating with the Malaysian representative on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, to convey his concern at this insensitive and insulting remark by Mr. McKinnon, the statement said.