Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

NZ’s prime minister responds to call for civil disobedience in Fiji

Posted at 02:16 on 06 August, 2009 UTC

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, says a call for civil disobedience in Fiji is unhelpful.

The outgoing chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum, Niue’s Premier Toke Talagi, says international pressure has failed to sway the regime in Suva.

He made the comments at the 40th leaders’ summit, being held in Cairns this week.

Mr Talagi said people in Fiji must take responsibility for the restoration of democracy by rising up in protest.

Mr Key says he wouldn’t go as far as to say Mr Talagi’s remarks are inciteful, but he describes them as unhelpful.

“You can’t have a good coup and a bad coup, we have encouraged Frank Bainimarama to engage in dialogue with the Forum leaders in Fiji, both with Qarase and with Chaudhry, we think that’s the right course of action, not some sort of uprising by the people against the military coup.”

The Prime Minister, John Key.