Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji politician urges tougher action on regime by regional countries

Posted at 07:37 on 04 May, 2009 UTC

Pacific leaders are being urged to be tough on Fiji in the wake of its suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum.

Peceli Kinivuwai, the director of Laisenia Qarase’s SDL Party, says Fiji’s suspension is no surprise given the failure of the interim regime to restore democracy.

He says Forum leaders should also introduce trade sanctions against Fiji and continue to take a strong stance against the interim government.

“Only then will the interim regime know of the consequences of their actions because as it is the apologists and the sympathisers are the ones that are making it worse for us. If people would all oppose us then we would have seen radical changes for Fiji happening.”

Peceli Kinivuwai says the interim government has only itself to blame for the suspension and it should stop blaming Australia and New Zealand.