Prime Minister's statement to Parliament, 2pm, 5 December 2006

I am sure that all New Zealanders today will share the shock of the government and this Parliament at the unconstitutional actions by the military and the President of Fiji.

I have been advised this morning that the President of Fiji has now acted outside his constitutional powers and supported the removal of the democratically-elected Prime Minister by the military.

I have spoken to Mr Qarase again within the last hour and a quarter. He is showing great courage in the face of huge threats and intimidation by the Fiji military led by Commodore Bainimarama.

The Prime Minister has told me again that he has no intention of resigning. He is deeply concerned that the President has acted outside his constitutional powers to support the military.

The message of the New Zealand Government to the President and the Commodore is very clear. They should pull back even at this late stage from their unconstitutional actions. If they do not they will cause irreparable damage to the Fiji economy and people.

Given the events that have already taken place the New Zealand Government is now:

• Imposing travel bans on senior Republic of Fiji military officials and their families
• Discussing with the Commonwealth Secretary General the inscribing of Fiji on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group list with the likelihood that if this coup is not stopped Fiji will again be suspended from membership of the Commonwealth
• Suspending bilateral defence ties with the exception of maritime patrolling, disaster relief, and search and rescue activities.

A range of further measures are available to the New Zealand Government and will be based on our reactions to coup activity in 2000. These will be implemented progressively unless the Commodore and the President withdraw from their unconstitutional actions.

The New Zealand Government fears for the future of Fiji when a democratically-elected government acting within the constitution is put under this kind of pressure by a military acting outside the law.

We commend Prime Minister Qarase and his government for standing up to this bullying and undemocratic and unconstitutional actions. We call on all parties in this Parliament to join us in sending this message to Fiji.