Tensions between the two countries have apparently erupted on reefs Minerva contested claim that both countries, and the alleged involvement of Tonga with the defection of high-profile military former Fiji, Ratu Tevita Mara.
Ratu Tevita is currently in Australia trying to promote his new role as an activist for democracy, and the Government of Fiji is requesting his extradition from Australia.
But a reef in the Pacific Ocean also has people talking.
Presenter: Janak Rogers
Speakers: Ahongalu Fusumalohi, Special Adviser for the first Tongan Minister; Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum; Interim Prosecutor of Fiji; Dr. Clive Schofield is the Director of research at the Australian National Centre for ocean resources and security; It Rod Alley, Member of the Center for strategic studies of New Zealand
ROGERS: The Minerva reefs is an isolated reef claimed by Fiji and Tonga. Its been the source of tensions in the past, as the Tongan Government has repeatedly accused Fiji destroy navigation beacons set up. In recent days, a ship of the armed Tongan had allegedly persecuted outside an armed ship Fiji at the Minerva reefs. But Ahongalu Fusumalohi, a Special Adviser for Tongan Prime Minister, is willing to play by reports of a naval incident between Fiji and Tonga.
FUSUMALOHI: as I am concerned about there was nothing. However, they may have met and waved one to the other, but rather I don't want to speculate, and deduce that a confrontation or something more than was simply probably meeting at sea.
ROGERS: It is also alleged that Fiji and Tonga enjoy good relations.
FUSUMALOHI: And I think that there are no tensions between Fiji and Tonga. Our relationship has been warm and cordial throughout many years and until today, I think that it is continuing and I can only hope that our counterparts in Fiji that you want to discuss with us the issues of Minerva.
ROGERS: The Acting Attorney General of Fiji, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, also said reports of tensions between the two countries are exaggerated.
SAYED-KHAIYUM: and I think that it seems not much HAA hoo by the means of communication Australians and New Zealanders, about called fallout, there are consequences. There are various issues that must be met. We have taken the legal line, the legal process on several other issues that have been raised in the Minerva reefs and the Government, a statement from last week. We are going to follow the legal process under the provision of the Convention of the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea and which is under way.
ROGERS: But both countries have also released statements written in the last few days each intentionally stating its property on the reef. In a written statement published Friday, the Government of Fiji accused Australia and New Zealand of Tonga by manipulating the Minerva reef. Rod Alley is a Member Senior of the Center for strategic studies in New Zealand. He said while tensions on the reef had broken out again this year, but it seemed that there was no hope of a more amicable solution.
Alley: I am absolutely convinced that the bet rose sharply after Colonel Mara defected to Tonga and aired on YouTube, the world of Tonga on its deep dissatisfaction with the regime of Bainimarama.
ROGERS: Rod Alley also said that a number of countries appeared to want to gain political mileage from the Minerva reef tensions.
Dead end: There is no doubt in the entire system of Fiji is I think using the dispute to raise their concerns about the involvement of Australia and New Zealand and have said some very unparliamentary things about Mr Smith, Mr Rudd and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. McCully in New Zealand claiming that he is trying to handle the situation or manipulate Tonga as a way to return to Fiji. It is getting all rather messy.
ROGERS: Dr. Clive Schofield is the Director of research at the Australian National Centre for ocean resources and security. He says the time reef can be politically controversial, legally reefs could not form the basis of a territorial claim.
SCHOFIELD: Somewhat suggest that this is much ado about nothing in legal terms, but when we break down and see really what kind of roles that we are looking to the North and South Minerva reefs, are as their name suggests: reefs. These are features that are in fact submerged during much of the cycle of the tides. Now turn it has international legal implications for their ability to generate claims to maritime jurisdiction.
ROGERS: Clive Schofield says also that the prospect of mining rights and potentially lucrative fishing maintains much of the Minerva reef competition.
SCHOFIELD: There has been a realization that very small islets can suddenly be able to generate large maritime claims and the marine resources in those areas that are traditional resources that we think in terms of fishing and oil and gas, but also of deep-sea mineral resources. They are a major driving force in disputes over such small coming to the fore.
ROGERS: Rod Alley, Center of strategic studies said that the Pacific region countries are eager to see that not worsen tensions between Fiji and Tonga.
Alley: The conflict itself, Australia and New Zealand have said practically they do not have a dog in this particular fight, but that they want to see settled, because they recognize that if tensions between Fiji and Tonga much worse, could affect relations in the wider Pacific. And they have a meeting very important to come here in New Zealand later in the year and do not want talks that is putting much effort here derailed by a bilateral dispute between Fiji and Tonga.
No comments:
Post a Comment