Mara now a Tongan citizen
The runaway former Fiji Army Commander whose “rescue” by Tongan Navy has caused tension between the two countries is now a Tongan citizen.
Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, also known as Roko Ului, is expected in New Zealand this week for talks with Government officials. He is currently in Australia.
The Communication Advisor for the Prime Minister, ‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi, confirmed that Ratu Tevita was granted a Tongan passport last week, Taimi Media Network reported.
In Australia, he addressed the Fiji Democracy Movement in the capital, Canberra, on Saturday, and was also expected to meet representatives of the Australian Government as he began an international campaign against the military regime in Fiji.
Fijian Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama has branded Ratu Tevita a “fugitive” and called on Tonga to return him to Fiji.
In Auckland, the spokesmnan for the Coalition for Democracy in Fiji, Nik Naidu, said the group still wanted to meet with Ratu Tevita despite it lobbying the New Zealand government not to allow the former military officer into the country.
New Zealand announced yesterday it had decided on Saturday night (after Ratu Tevita’s meeting with the Fiji community in Canberra) to grant an exemption to allow Ratu Tevita to make a similar two-day visit to Auckland.
Naidu told Coupfourpointfive Ratu Tevita had not been in touch with them as of yet but the Coalition would meet with him when he visited as expected this week, and would put its concerns and questions directly to the former commander of the 3FIR.
"Of course we would want to. And we would put the same questions to him on his involvement, our concerns, and how genuine is he? However, we still feel it is inappropriate to let him into New Zealand in view of the level of involvement he has had and the damage this has done to Fiji."
Naidu has been criticised for revealing the Coalition has lobbied the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, to reject Ratu Tevita’s travel application.
A number of people have since questioned the credentials of the Coalition and Naidu's motives, accusing him of working against democracy for Fiji, claiming he has links with regime members like Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum.
Naidu told Coupfourpointfive it was good to see people so passionate about Fiji in spite of the criticisms, saying generously "that's democracy in action and we should respect everyone's right to speak, and their points of view."
But Naidu said it was a pity more people couldn’t stand up and be counted, where it could count the most – in public.
He said people should be encouraged to use their real names and be staunch about their views and suggestions when talking about Fiji, turning to the quote "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Meanwhile, Tongan gunboats on Friday reportedly chased off a Fijian warship at the disputed Minerva Reefs, about 900 miles north of New Zealand.
The confrontation reportedly has triggered plans by the Fiji navy to return to the uninhabited reefs with three armed ships.
The reefs have long been claimed by Tonga but Fiji also has laid claim to the atolls and recently damaged navigation equipment set up on the reefs by Tonga.
According to Pacific journalist Michael Field, reporting for www.stuff.co.nz two Tonga patrol boats arriving at the atolls to repair the equipment chased a Fiji warship in one of the lagoons.
Neither country has yet officially acknowledged the incident, he reports. Field Coup Four and a Half as saying three Fiji Navy ships were being prepared at Walu Bay, near Suva, for a return mission to Minerva.
The ships were to have 30 crew each to reclaim control of the remote reefs.
The runaway former Fiji Army Commander whose “rescue” by Tongan Navy has caused tension between the two countries is now a Tongan citizen. Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, also known as Roko Ului, is expected in New Zealand this week for talks with Government officials. He is currently in Australia.
The runaway former Fiji Army Commander whose “rescue” by Tongan Navy has caused tension between the two countries is now a Tongan citizen.
Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, also known as Roko Ului, is expected in New Zealand this week for talks with Government officials. He is currently in Australia.
The Communication Advisor for the Prime Minister, ‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi, confirmed that Ratu Tevita was granted a Tongan passport last week, Taimi Media Network reported.
In Australia, he addressed the Fiji Democracy Movement in the capital, Canberra, on Saturday, and was also expected to meet representatives of the Australian Government as he began an international campaign against the military regime in Fiji.
Fijian Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama has branded Ratu Tevita a “fugitive” and called on Tonga to return him to Fiji.
In Auckland, the spokesmnan for the Coalition for Democracy in Fiji, Nik Naidu, said the group still wanted to meet with Ratu Tevita despite it lobbying the New Zealand government not to allow the former military officer into the country.
New Zealand announced yesterday it had decided on Saturday night (after Ratu Tevita’s meeting with the Fiji community in Canberra) to grant an exemption to allow Ratu Tevita to make a similar two-day visit to Auckland.
Naidu told Coupfourpointfive Ratu Tevita had not been in touch with them as of yet but the Coalition would meet with him when he visited as expected this week, and would put its concerns and questions directly to the former commander of the 3FIR.
"Of course we would want to. And we would put the same questions to him on his involvement, our concerns, and how genuine is he? However, we still feel it is inappropriate to let him into New Zealand in view of the level of involvement he has had and the damage this has done to Fiji."
Naidu has been criticised for revealing the Coalition has lobbied the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, to reject Ratu Tevita’s travel application.
A number of people have since questioned the credentials of the Coalition and Naidu's motives, accusing him of working against democracy for Fiji, claiming he has links with regime members like Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum.
Naidu told Coupfourpointfive it was good to see people so passionate about Fiji in spite of the criticisms, saying generously "that's democracy in action and we should respect everyone's right to speak, and their points of view."
But Naidu said it was a pity more people couldn’t stand up and be counted, where it could count the most – in public.
He said people should be encouraged to use their real names and be staunch about their views and suggestions when talking about Fiji, turning to the quote "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Meanwhile, Tongan gunboats on Friday reportedly chased off a Fijian warship at the disputed Minerva Reefs, about 900 miles north of New Zealand.
The confrontation reportedly has triggered plans by the Fiji navy to return to the uninhabited reefs with three armed ships.
The reefs have long been claimed by Tonga but Fiji also has laid claim to the atolls and recently damaged navigation equipment set up on the reefs by Tonga.
According to Pacific journalist Michael Field, reporting for www.stuff.co.nz two Tonga patrol boats arriving at the atolls to repair the equipment chased a Fiji warship in one of the lagoons.
Neither country has yet officially acknowledged the incident, he reports. Field Coup Four and a Half as saying three Fiji Navy ships were being prepared at Walu Bay, near Suva, for a return mission to Minerva.
The ships were to have 30 crew each to reclaim control of the remote reefs.
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