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Fiji drops threat to expel New Zealand ambassador
AFP - 41 minutes ago
WELLINGTON (AFP) - - Fiji's military regime said Tuesday it had dropped a threat to expel New Zealand's ambassador for now but accused it and neighbouring Australia of bullying and neo-colonialism.
Fiji's interim attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told Radio New Zealand that acting high commissioner Caroline McDonald would not be expelled over the country's travel bans against people associated with the military regime.
New Zealand government sources said last week that Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama had threatened to kick out McDonald over the refusal to renew a student visa for the son of an official.
But Sayed-Khaiyum told Radio New Zealand that action could be taken in the future if she or other diplomats "were not acting diplomatically."
"There is currently an assessment being carried out in respect of some of the activities the acting New Zealand high commissioner is engaged in," he said.
Last year Fiji expelled New Zealand high commissioner Michael Green, accusing him of interfering in local politics.
In a press conference Monday, Sayed-Khaiyum accused the New Zealand and Australian missions of engaging with opponents of self-appointed interim Prime Minister Bainimarama and of "creating disquiet within the population".
"They have encouraged their local staff to become spies for them."
He also went on to accuse Australia of spying on phone lines in Fiji.
"When our prime minister had a bilateral meeting with (Australian Foreign Minister) Stephen Smith a few weeks ago it was put to him that the Australian authorities are tapping our phones. He did not deny it."
Relations between the two countries and Fiji have been strained since Fiji's elected government was toppled by Bainimarama in a 2006 coup.
New Zealand imposed sanctions, including the bans on visits to New Zealand by people associated with the military regime and their families.
Sayed-Khaiyum accused New Zealand and Australia of having a "neo-colonialist" attitude to Fiji.
"Their lack of consistency and patronizing attitude towards Fiji and her people and the Pacific in general has been staggering," he said.
But Sayed-Khaiyum also said Fiji would set up a committee aimed at improving relations with New Zealand.
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