Peters hits it off with Fiji armed forces chief

Frank Bainimarama

Foreign Minister Winston Peters told Fiji military commander Frank Bainimarama yesterday, "The reputation of Polynesia is on the line here", in a meeting sought over concerns about the relationship between the Army and the Fiji Government.

"I had a frank discussion with the commander and sought to leave him with no misunderstanding about our expectations and hopes for a peaceful evolution of constitutional development of democracy in Fiji and how critical it was to Fiji's long-term peace and prosperity," Mr Peters told the Herald after a day of meetings in Suva.

Visiting politicians do not usually meet military commanders, but Fiji is a special case because of the armed forces' increasingly strident independence from the Government.

Mr Peters asked for the meeting after threats last month that the Army could do a better job than the Government, which Commodore Bainimarama believes has been lenient on perpetrators of the 2000 coup.

"I sought to emphasise the fact that the reputation of Polynesia is on the line here. We are all affected by it and those democracies surrounding Fiji are affected by it as well."

Mr Peters said Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase had approved the meeting. He said his Australian counterpart, Alexander Downer, met Commodore Bainimarama last year and he saw no reason why he should not do so as well to try to get a full understanding of what was happening in Fiji.

It appeared yesterday that Mr Peters' visit to the Queen Elizabeth II Barracks was more successful than Mr Downer's.

The Australian minister received a tongue-lashing from the commander after he attempted to tell the military to keep out of politics.

But Commodore Bainimarama saluted Mr Peters and warmly greeted him as he arrived in his official car with half a dozen Foreign Affairs staff.

The meeting was held in the commodore's office, the same place where mutineers tried to assassinate him in 2000 and where his bodyguards died protecting him.

Commodore Bainimarama emerged in excellent spirits from the meeting.

"We just talked about everything in general, from rugby to politics, good politics - Fiji politics."

He would not elaborate on the details of the security briefing he gave Mr Peters, but said he was happy to make such meetings a regular occurrence if foreign ministers wanted.

Commodore Bainimarama said he and Mr Peters had met before "in wonderful circumstances after a rugby game" in Wellington, though Fiji had lost that time.

Mr Peters, asked if Commodore Bainimarama might be a valuable person to know should Fiji be subject to another coup, said New Zealand was proceeding with confidence that the elections this year would go ahead.

The Army commander and Mr Qarase met early yesterday in the first session of a fortnightly dialogue between the pair negotiated after the January troubles.

Mr Peters met the Prime Minister soon after and said last night that he talked about New Zealand putting the legacy of the past behind and forming a new relationship with Fiji to enhance its democracy.

Mr Peters visited the Fiji elections office, which has had substantial New Zealand aid to prepare for this year's election, particularly enrolments.

New Zealand will contribute $5.4 million and former Chief Electoral Officer Phil Whelan will give technical assistance.

Mr Peters also announced New Zealand would give $42.2 million for a civic education programme for schools.

Today he heads to Nadi for formal talks with his Fiji counterpart, Kaliopate Tavola.