Media release

20 May 2008

Fiji: Threats to High Commission Staff

The Australian Government remains deeply concerned by recent serious and credible threats directed at the Australian High Commission in Suva.

The Government is disappointed that the Interim Fiji Government has not yet agreed to our reasonable requests for the deployment of Australian personnel and for additional security support by the Fiji police.

The Government reminds the Interim Government that it is obliged, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to fully protect diplomatic staff and their families and diplomatic premises.

A number of additional steps will now be taken, by the High Commission itself, to further strengthen the security of our staff, their families and our premises. 

The Government has decided to offer spouses, partners and dependent children of High Commission staff in Suva the option of ‘voluntary return’ to Australia, with reasonable costs met by the Australian Government in the usual way. Families may choose to stay. It will be entirely a matter for them.

This will be reflected in the travel advice for Fiji but will not alter the overall threat level assessment.

These threats, of course, do not alter the Australian Government’s policy on Fiji.

Together with fellow members of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Australian Government will continue to press the Fiji Interim Government to return to democracy and the rule of law through democratic elections by March 2009.

This was the faithful commitment given by Interim Prime Minister Bainimarama to Pacific leaders in October 2007. Australia continues to urge him to honour that commitment.

While our relationship with Fiji has been placed under further pressure by recent events - including the deportation of two Australian publishers and the Interim Government’s response to these recent threats – there has been one positive development.

Yesterday Commodore Bainimarama held a meeting with ousted Prime Minister Qarase. This is their first meeting since the coup in 2006. They were accompanied by the heads of the Methodist and Catholic Churches in Fiji, who had facilitated the meeting.

This was a constructive step. The two leaders have indicated they are to meet again soon in company with the Church heads.

Media inquiries: Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555