Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji military says Australian travel advisory designed to discredit interim administration

Posted at 22:21 on 08 October, 2007 UTC

Fiji’s military says an Australian government warning about the possibility of an outbreak of violence, civil unrest and bomb attacks is designed to discredit the interim government and make Fiji citizens feels threatened.

The military spokesman, Lt Col Mosese Tikoitoga, says if Australia thinks it has credible information as it claims, then as a responsible country it should give that information to the interim administration so something can be done about it.

He has told local newspapers Australia’s failure to do this reflects the lack of intelligence in the report.

Lt Col Tikoitoga says Australia is always negative about Fiji’s progress and goes to the extent of telling people of unsubstantiated rumours.

He says people should not be moved by such fabrications.

Lt Col Tikoitoga says the most credible assessment of the security situation in Fiji was done by the military council when it lifted the Public Emergency Regulations at the weekend.