Fiji Powderkeg Reinforces Need For Humanitarian Response

The latest explosion of unrest in Fiji reinforces the need for New Zealand to do more at a humanitarian level to assist the Indo-Fijian population, says United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne.

"Yesterday's attempted rebellion in Suva shows how volatile the situation remains, and inevitably raises questions about the legitimacy and authority of the unelected Qarase Government and its ability to hold the situation together."

"It is a far from encouraging picture, especially as far as the Indo-Fijian population is concerned, and raises once more the question of their long-term security in Fiji, something deposed Prime Minister Chaudhry was anxious to draw attention to when in New Zealand recently."

"There is an opportunity for New Zealand to show genuine leadership here."

"Instead of more pontificating words from Phil Goff, which have proved utterly ineffectual to date, New Zealand, working in concert with Australia, and perhaps the United States and Canada, ought to be putting in place a genuine resettlement policy aimed at resettling over time the bulk of the Indian population outside Fiji."

"The current tensions in Fiji make it abundantly clear that no lasting settlement is likely in Fiji while the racial divide remains."

"New Zealand taking the lead in promoting a genuine humantiarian solution would be a far more direct benefit to the Indian population in Fiji."

"Moreover, given the skills of many of the Indo-Fijian population, it would also be of direct benefit to New Zealand also."

"It would be a welcome change from a continuation of a hectoring foreign policy that is more suited to a university quadrangle lunchtime meeting, and likely to be about as effective," Mr Dunne says.

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