Subscribe to Archivestuff Have your say New Zealand's toughened sanctions against Fiji are likely to affect the country's return to democracy, military strongman Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama says. His comments followed New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday announcing a wider ban on travel by Fijians to New Zealand in reaction to Suva's expulsion of High Commissioner Michael Green. Mr Bainimarama, who appointed himself prime minister following a coup in December, said the latest moves were "hypocrisy of the highest order" by Wellington.
"How can they claim to remain focused on encouraging a rapid return to constitutional government in Fiji when they are hell bent on punishing credible people who are coming forward to help bring about necessary changes to move us forward?" he said in a statement. "If New Zealand's aim is to hurt Fiji and crumble our institutions of state, then obviously it will affect our capability to return the country to parliamentary democracy expeditiously, which the international community is demanding.
" He said independent experts had said the travel bans were affecting Fiji's ability to fill positions. He noted they could not appoint a Supervisor of Elections as no one with the skill would apply.
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