The Guardian 8 November, 2006
Ignorant, big brother policies towards Fiji
In yet another example of its arrogant and "big brother does what he likes" attitudes the Australian and New Zealand governments sent more police or mercenaries to Fiji on Friday. This blatant action has brought a strong reaction from the commander of Fiji’s Land Force, Colonel Pita Driti. He is quoted by the ABC as saying that It was a gross breach of sovereignty and independence. The Fijian military officer says that it was "sheer ignorance, or hegemonic shoving of big brother policies down our throats" and likened it to the Sandlines affair when the PNG Government attempted to bring in South African mercenaries to intervene in the armed struggle for independence that was then taking place on the island of Bougainville.
Alexander Downer did not deny that some Australian personnel had been sent to Fiji but claimed that Australia has sent staff to Australia’s High Commission office in Fiji in case there is a coup. The Australian Federal Police have denied sending any of their staff to Fiji. Downer refused to say whether the personnel were armed although they landed with metal boxes weighing over 400 kilograms.
The Police Commissioner in Fiji is an Australian as are other personnel at various levels of the Fijian government administration.
The statement of the Fijian army commander is yet another indication of the rising resentment in the South Pacific Island states directed against the Australian Government’s colonialist policies and ambitions. Because the states are relatively weak, the Australian government thinks that it can do whatever it likes ignoring the sovereignty and independence of the South Pacific states.