Gruelling Beehive gauntlet for envoy

By EUGENE BINGHAM political reporter

More stinging than the cane, more gruelling than lines - Fiji's High Commissioner received a media lashing as part of his punishment at the Beehive yesterday.

It was no coincidence that when Isimeli Bainimara arrived at the office of Foreign Minister Phil Goff in Wellington he was made to wait in the reception area for five minutes, suffering the indignity of the flash and the wide-angle lens.

Nor was it for no reason that when he left, Mr Bainimara was pushed out of Mr Goff's door alone and directed to the main Beehive lifts rather than to the private elevator reserved for visitors who would rather not be seen as they leave.

The commissioner's entrance and exit were choreographed to ensure he endured a media gauntlet. It was enough to make even Mr Goff feel sorry for him.

"The high commissioner was extremely upset and one can feel on a personal basis for him as he watches the unfolding of the tragedy in his own country - he would not wish it to be that way, I'm sure," said Mr Goff after he had ushered Mr Bainimara away.

Summoning the high commissioner to the Beehive was New Zealand's way of formally and symbolically expressing condemnation of the political crisis in Suva and the continued absence of democracy.

Mr Goff's words were a carefully chosen seven-paragraph statement delivered behind closed doors.

The statement, written down so Mr Bainimara could take it with him, sought assurances about the safety of the members of the deposed Government of Mahendra Chaudhry and reminded Fiji of the grave consequences of establishing a racist constitution.

Actions, however, were deliberately louder than the words. The way in which Mr Bainimara was dealt with reflected the cold shoulder New Zealand has turned to Fiji.

Left on his own in the reception area before being called into Mr Goff's suite, the dignified, white-haired Mr Bainimara looked as if he wished he were anywhere but Wellington.

To pass the time, he picked up a copy of the capital's morning newspaper, only to be confronted with a front-page story about sanctions against his country. Ouch.

Eventually, he was greeted by Mr Goff. The normally friendly-faced Foreign Minister had adopted a grim look. This was serious.

Fifteen minutes later, Mr Bainimara stepped out and was immediately trapped.

Questions flew but polite no-comments and short sentences ensued.

Was he confident of a return to democratic government?

"Well," said Mr Bainimara, "that's the goal."

What more could he say? Here was a man who could not even confidently describe who it was, exactly, he represented.