Fijian party wants NZ envoy expelled over comments

Suva (Fiji’s Daily Post, The Fiji Sun/PINA Nius Online) – The Soqosoqo Vakavulewa ni Taukei Party has called for the expulsion of New Zealand High Commissioner Tia Barrett from the country.

Fiji’s Daily Post today reported party secretary Jone Banuve issued a statement saying Mr. Barrett should leave the country within 24 hours for breaching diplomatic rules and norms.

The statement responded to Mr. Barrett’s criticism of what he said was the slow pace in bringing those responsible for the May 19 coup to justice.

Mr. Barrett had also said indigenous rights should not over-ride fundamental human rights.

“Perhaps Mr. Barrett wants Fijian to become disinherited, dispossessed people like the Maoris of New Zealand who now own only six percent of the land that was originally theirs,” the Soqosoqo Vakavulewa ni Taukei statement said.

“That fate Fijians do not desire.

“What form of hasty ‘justice’ is he seeking? Is it the kind that hung his forefathers, the Maori leaders who fought for the rights of their people in the land wars of the 19th century of New Zealand?”

The Soqosoqo Vakavulewa ni Taukei headed the government defeated in last year’s Fiji general elections and was the main opposition party in parliament before the May 19 coup. In the coup the coalition government led by Fiji’s first ethnic Indian prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, was taken hostage by indigenous Fijian rebel gunmen led by George Speight.

In earlier criticism of Mr. Barrett’s comments Fiji’s Interim Foreign Affairs Minister Kaliopate Tavola called them “ill-timed” and “foolish”.

Fiji’s Daily Post reported Mr. Tavola said the high commissioner’s comments “certainly marked a clear departure from his usual diplomatic role.”

Mr. Tavola said: “The police and the judicial system face a complicated task in vetting through the information that is available and to ensure that individual’s human rights are not encroached in any way during the investigations.”

Meanwhile, The Fiji Sun reported Fiji’s Director of Health Services has defended the Fiji Government decision to pay for rebel lawyer Vodo Tuberi’s $16,000 medical bill in New Zealand.

Dr. Nacanieli Goneyali said Mr. Tuberi deserved the treatment under humanitarian grounds.

The bill fell into the Fiji Government’s lap after the New Zealand Government withdrew its sponsorship of Mr. Tuberi’s treatment under a special New Zealand aid program after it found out Mr. Tuberi is one of the lawyers allegedly identified with George Speight and his rebels and is blacklisted by the New Zealand Government.

The Fiji Government has come under heavy criticism after its decision to pay for Mr. Tuberi’s medical costs.
The Fiji Trade Union Congress (FTUC) acting National Secretary, Rajeshwar Singh, said that this was a clear case of corruption.

“It’s known to everybody in the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister’s Office that the scheme is intended to help those who have no source of income and need to go overseas for life-saving treatment,” Mr. Singh said.

“A lawyer doesn’t qualify under the scheme.”

He said media reports have highlighted that children from poor homes were unable to travel overseas for life-saving treatment because of lack of funds and that families have had to resort to public appeals for assistance in seeking funds.

“These children have received no assistance from the interim administration. Why? Is it because they have no connection with people in power?” Mr. Singh questioned.

He said that the interim administration was only serving the interest of the privileged and well placed indigenous members of the community.

Dr. Goneyali said he did not understand what the fuss surrounding Mr. Tuberi’s treatment was all about because, under humanitarian grounds, he had the right to medical treatment, which he could not afford.

“Just because he’s blacklisted doesn’t mean that he should be denied treatment.” Dr. Goneyali said.

Mr. Tuberi couldn’t afford to pay for his treatment, he doesn’t have any medical insurance and he’s a citizen of Fiji, he said.

The Ministry of Health had made an arrangement with the New Zealand Government that Mr. Tuberi be treated under the New Zealand free scheme. This was withdrawn when the New Zealand Government discovered that Mr. Tuberi was supposed to be banned from the country.