Tonga may refuse to hand over
Mara after
Fiji issues extradition for his arrest.
Reporters have said there is more chance of Tonga snowing, than Tonga releasing
Colonel Mara, due to its blood ties with his father.
The stand off started last week when a
Tongan navy mission to "rescued" a rebellious
Fijian soldier plotting the overthrow of dictator
Voreqe Bainimarama has plunged the
South Pacific into a warlike crisis.
As Fiji
Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara now enjoys the protection of Tonga's
King George Tupou,
Bainimarama has demanded they handed him back.
Looking weary and uncertain, Bainimarama said Fiji takes "strong exception" to the way Tonga breached Fiji sovereignty to snatch Col. Mara away.
Both countries have standing armies, although the bulk of Tonga's army is currently serving in
Afghanistan.
"On behalf of the people of Fiji," Bainimarama said, "I urge the Tongan
Royal Family, the Tongan prime minister, the government of the kingdom of Tonga and also the people of Tonga who I know cherish their
... cultural, economic and political ties with Fiji to stop this conspiracy by a handful of self-interested individuals."
Tonga claimed they rescued Mara in international waters but Bainimarama said the operation was staged a nautical mile north west of
Cape Washington in
Kadavu, well inside Fiji waters.
Police had launched an operation to find out who helped Col. Mara.
"This is unfortunate and shows a fundamental disloyalty to Fiji, Fijian laws and the
Fijian people."
Tonga's breach comes after Fiji earlier this year went to the remote
Minerva Atoll between Tonga and
New Zealand - and claimed by Tonga - and blew up navigation lights there. Fiji says the atoll is theirs.
The crisis is the most severe to affect the region since Bainimarama seized power in a coup in
2006.
Tonga is involved because
Fiji's Lau Islands are culturally linked to Tonga and its paramount family are also members of the Tongan royal family. Col. Mara's father was Fiji's founding prime minister and president, the late
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
Complicating the issue further, Fiji's military appointed president,
Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, is married to Col. Mara's sister,
Koila Mara.
Key Fiji sources say that Ratu Epeli phoned King George and organised the mission to get Col. Mara out.
A week ago Col. Mara and
Land Force Commander Colonel
Pita Driti were arrested and charged with organising a mutiny to overthrow Bainimarama. They were bailed to appear later this month.
On Saturday Tonga's
Lord Privy Seal, Va'inga
Tone said Tonga's patrol boat Savea was "attracted to a distress signal", south of the Fiji's Ono-i-Lau islands,
365 kilometres west of
Nuku'alofa.
"The rescued passenger has been brought to Nuku'alofa where arrangements have been made for his accommodation by the
Royal Household Office in deference to his rank," he said, without naming the person.
King George, travelling in
Central Europe was being "fully informed of events...."
Col. Mara, who is now living in the old
British High Commission building on the Nuku'alofa waterfront, then launched an attack on Bainimarama in a
YouTube video. He directed most of his venom toward Fiji's military appointed
Attorney General,
Aiyaz Khayum.
"For inexplicable reasons,
Commodore Bainimarama, weakened by ill health, morally and intellectually bankrupt, is no more than Aiyaz Khayum's hand puppet," Mara said.
Khayum suffered from "megalomania ... inspired entirely by the self importance of a lonely and inadequate man."
Col. Mara said when he was "rescued by the Tongan
Navy I asked to be brought to Nuku'alofa where under the sure protection of King George's
Government I shall be able to tell the truth, without fear of retribution, about the tragic oppression which stifles my beloved land.
"When this hateful dictatorship has been eradicated all of us who once served it shall answer to the Fijian people for the part we played and I will gladly submit to their verdict."
Tight military censorship kept the news from most
Fijians, but this ended with Bainimarama's speech to the nation.
"I intend to communicate with the
Tongan Prime Minister within the next 24 hours about these breaches (of sovereignty)," he said.
Bainimarama said Col. Mara was a fugitive and Fiji would seek his extradition from Tonga.
"Ratu Tevita's actions is an act of despicable nature for one who is accused of offences against Fijian law."
- published: 18 May 2011
- views: 18453