E&OE
14 April 2009
Interview with ABC Radio AM
Subjects: Thailand, Fiji
TONY EASTLEY: Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, is urging the Thai Government to solve its problems peacefully and lawfully, but Mr Smith won't make a judgement on whether the military operation has managed to do that.
Mr Smith has reserved his harshest criticism for Fiji's military regime. He's indicated Australia may spearhead a push to expel Fiji from the Pacific Islands Forum as well as the Commonwealth.
Mr Smith, who's in Western Australia before heading off to Indonesia, is speaking here with Alexandra Kirk.
REPORTER: Stephen Smith, you're urging Australians not to go to Bangkok and if they're there to stay indoors. Does the Australian Government back the actions of the Thai Prime Minister and the military operation?
STEPHEN SMITH: What we back is Thailand resolving its political difficulties in a peaceful and civilised and lawful manner and that message was relayed to the Thai authorities yesterday on my behalf by our Ambassador in Bangkok. What Australia wants to see is all parties engage in a peaceful resolution of what are clearly very difficult political circumstances in Thailand.
REPORTER: So, what's your view then of the military operations so far?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, we certainly don't want Thailand to remove itself from democracy, so any military action needs to be action which is consistent with Thailand's constitution, consistent with the law and consistent with keeping peace and law and order.
REPORTER: And do you think the military operation has been consistent with that?
STEPHEN SMITH: It's not for me to be able to make a judgement about that. Certainly we've seen very violent clashes on the TV screens. We're urging all parties to exercise restraint. We're not making judgements about cause or whether anyone is to blame, we're simply urging all parties to exercise restraint.
REPORTER: What do you think of the tactics, or the strategy of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra?
STEPHEN SMITH: Again, I'm not going to categorise actions of the political leadership of Thailand.
REPORTER: Mr Thaksin's accused the army of shooting into the crowd and killing several protesters. Do you think he's right?
STEPHEN SMITH: We've seen and heard reports of that but again, I'm not in a position to verify that one way or the other. And again, it's in Australia's best interest to make our points generally about the Thai political process. I'm not proposing to make judgements one way or the other.
REPORTER: On another trouble spot, Fiji, you've branded Fiji's regime in effect a military dictatorship. Australia already has a package of sanctions against Fiji. You're now pushing for further measures to pressure Commodore Frank Bainimarama to restore democracy.
Is it inevitable now that Fiji will be ousted, or at least suspended, from the Pacific Islands Forum and the Commonwealth?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, certainly Fiji is now effectively a self-imposed military dictatorship. Both the Pacific Island Forum leaders and the Commonwealth have essentially put Fiji on notice that unless we saw genuine moves towards democracy on the timetable set by the Pacific Island Forum that Fiji was at risk of being suspended from both the Commonwealth and the Pacific Island Forum. Unless there is some reversal of the events that we've seen in recent days, then frankly I regard that process as almost being inevitable.
REPORTER: What about tougher sanctions, further sanctions such as trade sanctions, for example?
STEPHEN SMITH: Australia has been at the forefront, together with New Zealand, of sanctions. They're effectively travel sanctions and also limits on Ministerial contact. But we don't want to do anything which adversely impacts on the Fiji people themselves.
One of our great concerns is that Fiji's move away from democracy has seen a very serious deterioration in Fiji's social and economic circumstances and so we don't want that to be compounded.
So, our view is that we need to do things which put pressure on Commodore Bainimarama, but don't do any damage or harm to the people of Fiji themselves.
REPORTER: So are there tougher sanctions that Australia could apply?
STEPHEN SMITH: We're not looking at that at this stage. We're urging the international community to look at what measures the international community can apply.
REPORTER: Would Australia consider more direct action along the lines of East Timor?
STEPHEN SMITH: We certainly don't have in mind military action of any description. Again, this is a matter which needs to be resolved through Fiji's political and constitutional processes.
TONY EASTLEY: The Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, speaking there with Alexandra Kirk.
[ENDS]
Media inquiries
Foreign Minister's office (02) 6277 7500