AUCKLAND: (Pacific Media Watch): As the region's media watch today for the next move between Fiji and Tonga over the runaway colonel, regime leader Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has challenged NZ Prime Minister John Key's motive in suggesting Ratu Tevita Mara may be granted political asylum.
Bainimarama was quoted on Fijivillage.com as saying that it was "sad to see" that the NZ government wanted to further strain its relations with Fiji by considering such action.
Key also said earlier this week that the travel sanction against Ratu Mara would be lifted.
Commodore Bainimarama questioned the NZ government on its current stance as he said NZ had continued to block a number of sports people from entering the country to take part in tournaments.
On Monday, Ratu Mara, commonly known in Fiji as Roko Ului, released a new video through Truth for Fiji's YouTube channel, condemning Bainimarama and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
In a strong message, the man Bainimarama is calling a "fugitive", said: "I am calling on the people of Fiji to unite first and then we shall overcome the dictator soon before our nation is completely destroyed by Khaiyum and Bainimarama.”
Matangi Tonga reported yesterday that Tonga's Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet confirmed they received Fiji's application for the extradition of the Lieutenant Colonel. The Tongan Prime Minister's Office will be handing the application over to the Solicitor General and the Crown Law Department for processing today.
Key told Radio New Zealand that he was not ruling out lifting a travel ban on Ratu Mara.
Back in Fiji, police are still questioning witnesses of Ratu Mara's escape on the Tongan patrol boat Savea.
Police spokesperson Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation the associates who helped Ratu Mara escape were being questioned. The government-favoured Fiji Sun reported yesterday that a village chief, Tui Ra Tevita Koroi, confirmed that fishermen had spotted the Tongan vessel and made contact.
“Some men from the village were drinking kava on board when the naval vessel was spotted near the island and when the captain made contact, the response received from the captain of the naval vessel was that they were from Vanuatu and they were responding to a distress call in the area.”
In a backgrounder, Fiji-born freelancer Graham Davis pondered whether Ratu Mara would head for New Zealand, or perhaps to Australia, where his military counterpart, Colonel Jone Baledrokadroka, is based.
Baledrokadroka opposed Bainimarama from the outset during the 2006 coup and fled to Australia.
Davis wrote that the Australian National University was a "hot-bed of anti-regime activity".
As Ratu Mara continues to undermine the regime from Tonga, it is simply a waiting game until the Fijian extradition application is processed.
Alex Perrottet
