Govt mum on list of banned Fijians

By EUGENE BINGHAM

The Government is refusing to release a list of Fijians banned from entering New Zealand because it does not want to upset relations with other countries.

The secret list of 150 people drawn up by diplomats and spies after the May 19 coup has been shared with other countries, though the Herald has been refused access to it under the Official Information Act.

Officials insist they have credible evidence linking the banned immigrants to the overthrowing of the democratically elected Government of Mahendra Chaudhry.

But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phil Goff, turned down a Herald request for the information on the basis it would affect New Zealand's international relations.

"It is likely that release would prejudice the international relations of the Government and the entrusting of information to the Government on a basis of confidence by a foreign Government," said Mr Goff.

"It is also likely that release would prejudice the [Fijians'] right to a fair trial or endanger [their] safety." They were also entitled to privacy.

Mr Goff did release papers which dealt with the decision to draw up the list including a cabinet paper dated July 17 which assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Security Intelligence Service the task.

A cable sent by the ministry to some of its overseas posts on July 14 asked that they co-operate with foreign Governments considering similar action.

"Posts should suggest that we would like to work together to make sure that the lists coincide as much as possible and that the approaches of implementing countries are as similar as possible," said the cable.

"The names on our list are, of course, all of the persons against whom we have credible evidence of associating with terrorists."

A spokesman for Mr Goff said yesterday that the list would be handed to the Immigration Service after it was completed this week.