Ex-Fiji commander seeks Australian protection

Geraldine Coutts, Campbell Cooney

Last Updated: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:42:00 +1100

The former head of Fiji's land forces says he would not be welcome back in his country, and has applied for a protection visa to stay in Australia.

Colonel Jone Baledrokadroka's application, in the wake of retaliatory diplomatic expulsions between Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, is being considered by the Australian Government.

He is a visiting fellow at the Australian National University, in Canberra, where Fiji-born academic Professor Brij Lal - just expelled by the Fiji regime - also works.

The colonel says Lal, a colleague, is "quite well known to be a critic of Bainimarama and a critic of all coups, back to Rabuka."

Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama "is just sending a message to Australia that he doesn't want anyone butting in on what is happening in Fiji at the moment."

Hell-bent

The colonel, who says he had a polical argument with Commodore Bainimarama in 2006, says on present indications he would not be allowed back by the military-supported regime.

"Obviously no. It seems he is hell-bent on this tit-for-tat childish sort of response," Colonel Baledrokadroka told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat.

"He sees anyone who speaks out as an enemy.

"At the moment he is hell-bent on retaliation against Australia and New Zealand.

"Any people - I suppose myself - speaking out . . . There is a heavy media censorship in in Fiji. So obviously he can use that to throw anyone out of the country."

His argument three years ago with his fellow officer was over Colonel Baledrokadroka's belief that Fiji's military should be apolitical.

Running

"He wanted obviously to politicise the military as it is at the moment."

He said that the present situation was, as Professor Lal had said, that the military "is effectively running the country in all departments."

Professor Lal has been expelled from Fiji for commenting on the latest diplomatic dispute between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.