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NZ cops 'mercenaries' in Fiji
06 November 2006
By MICHAEL FIELD
In Fiji

Fiji's military have demanded an explanation on why New Zealand police officers are in the Pacific nation.
»LISTEN TO AUDIO CLIP

The blunt comment from Fiji Land Force Commander Colonel Pita Driti came just a day after Republic of Fiji Military Forces head Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama returned to Fiji.

The commander has threatened to remove Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from office.

New Zealand has sent additional police – understood to be four officers – to support the New Zealand High Commission. This came after Australia dispatched two warships to Fiji to prepare the evacuation of Australian nationals.

But Colonel Driti claimed last night that, on Friday night, a group of Australians, carrying heavy silver boxes, were allowed in through Nadi, supported by Fiji police.

The latest statement signalled a worsening rift between the RFMF and the Fiji police which is headed by an Australian, Andrew Hughes.

Colonel Driti, who questioned Mr Hughes' "cultural background", said the behaviour of Australia and New Zealand toward Fiji, as well as toward the Solomons and Papua New Guinea, represented the "hegemonic shoving of big brother policies down our throats."

Soldiers were ready to die for Fiji, he said "We will not accept any foreign intervention."

Referring to Australia and New Zealand police as "the forum police", he said he did not know whether the New Zealand Police came into Fiji through normal channels.

"The RFMF questions the arrival of the New Zealand police officers in the country and what powers do they have in exercise of their duty in a country they do not have the mandate to exercise their authority," Colonel Driti said.

"In the interests of the nation, a threat to national security, the RFMF demands an explanation by Commissioner Hughes on this very serious matter."

Fiji did not need another police force; the RFMF could easily do the job. Asked what would happen if the Australian and New Zealand police tried to intervene, he said: "We will stop them."
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He said the arrival on Friday night of Australians in undisclosed numbers was a "gross breach of sovereignty and independence" and he demanded an explanation from Mr Hughes over what it was about.

He said they had 400 kilograms of "proper strong silver boxes" which entered the country without any customs clearance.

Asked if the boxes contained arms he replied: "Probably could be. We think of the worse and plan for the worse, nuclear bombs or anything."

Colonel Driti said that, till there was a proper explanation of what was happening with the New Zealand and Australian police, the RFMF would "perceive them as mercenaries."

Prime Minister Helen Clark today said the claims by Fiji's military that New Zealand police there are mercenaries were "ridiculous" .

Miss Clark said on Newstalk ZB that the Fiji military was "poking its nose in where there's absolutely no cause to".

"There was a decision taken at the end of last week for four New Zealand police officers to go up to the New Zealand High Commission to provide it with additional security and support," she said.

"Now, the prime minister's office was contacted, no problem. Fiji police were contacted, foreign ministry of Fiji was contacted.

"Of course the New Zealand police didn't go to the Fiji military, why would they? Absolutely ridiculous."

Miss Clark said New Zealand was beefing up security at its high commission, as she expected the Australians were also doing, in the "ghastly event" there was a fourth coup in 19 years.

Australia also would be preparing to help people evacuate but the Government was working to ensure events "fall well short of that".

Miss Clark said it was her gut feeling that the Fiji military "was endeavouring to bluff, intimidate and threaten".

The jury was out over whether it would be prepared to mount a coup but it was good news that Fiji's capital Suva had appeared to be calmer over the past two or three days, Miss Clark said.