Fiji Military Dismisses Australia's Travel Advisory

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SYDNEY, Australia -- Yesterday, the Australian foreign affairs department, concerned about future outbreaks of violence,  issued a travel advisory for visitors to Suva, Fiji.  The Australian government has said that it has received credible evidence that suggests that the unresolved political situation will lead to violence and general civil unrest.  The travel advisory was issued only for the capital of Suva and not for the rest of the Fijian islands. 

Fiji's military and interim government have dismissed Australia's concerns and insist that Fiji is perfectly safe for world travelers, pointing to Friday's recession of the Public Emergency Regulations as evidence of the increased security of Fiji.  The military says that it would not have lifted the PER if they had any indication that violence was imminent and if Australia has intelligence that would suggest unrest, they should act responsibly and give that information to Fiji.  "Fiji is not only safe," Tikoitoga said, "it is heavenly safe."  Military spokesman  Lt. Col. Mosese Tikoitoga believes the fact that they do not is an indication that no such information exists.

Lt Col Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, the officer responsible for the protection of the Greater Suva area, has suggested that the only reason why the Australian government would issue this travel advisory is if they intended to invade Fiji.  "As far as we are concerned, there is nothing like that, unless they are planning to invade Fiji. There is no threat at all, unless it's from Australia. That's why we removed the Public Relations Regulations, because there was no threat," Mara said.  While the Lt. Colonel's statements do not appear to reflect a genuine fear of of Australian aggression, this is not the first time that senior Fijian officials have suggested that Austalian had violent ambitions toward Fiji.  Mara, echoing the recent statements of interim PM Bainimarama, said that the rest of the world does not understand the situation on the ground in Fiji.

On Tuesday Mara offered an alternate theory for Australia's travel advisory: jealousy.  He suggested that the Australians are upset by their relatively poor showing at the recent Rugby World Cup and are jealous of Fiji's success.  After Fiji's unexpectedly good performance the interim minister for tourism and the president of the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association said that they expected  the win to significantly boost tourism. 

In an unusual show of solidarity with the interim government, the SDL party, has condemned the Australian travel advisory and has said that the SDL did not take any part in getting the advisory issued. Party spokesman, Peceli Kinivuwai, has said that the Australians should not issue statements that will only stir up instability.  He also said that if the Australians truly have credible evidence, they should quote their sources so that they could gain broader support.   

On Tuesday, the Australian government has defended its actions saying that its foreign affairs department believes that its sources were credible and that its international travel advisories were under constant review. 

Other countries, notably the United States and the United Kingdom, have also begun to reevaluate their travel advisories.  The United States Department of State put a posting on its website instructing tourists in Fiji to be cautious due to underlying political instability "While a State of Emergency (Public Emergency Regulation) is no longer in effect, some basic rights remain uncertain," the advisory said.   

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji emergency regulations to be lifted at midnight -- 05 October 2007

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji military says Australian travel advisory designed to discredit interim administration -- 08 October 2007

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji military dismisses new Australian travel advisory -- 08 October 2007

Radio New Zealand International -- Australian government upgrades travel advisory for visitors to Suva -- 08 October 2007

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji rugby teams World Cup performance expected to boost tourism -- 08 October 2007

The Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia warns of Fiji Violence -- 08 October 2007

Pacific Magazine -- Australia Issues Travel Alert for Fiji -- 08 October 2007

Island Business -- Australia Warns of Fiji Violence -- 08 October 2007

Fiji Times -- Aussie loss to blame -- 09 October 2007

Fiji Live -- Rumours of Fiji unrest rubbish: Army -- 09 October 2007