Contemporary relations Fiji–Tonga relations

1 contemporary relations

1.1 politics , diplomacy
1.2 trade
1.3 aviation
1.4 2010/2011: minerva reefs , mara conflicts

1.4.1 territorial disagreement
1.4.2 extraction of tevita mara

contemporary relations
politics , diplomacy

fiji s prime minister voreqe bainimarama received cheers , thunderous applause tongan public when attended pacific islands forum meeting in tonga in october 2007; crowd s enthusiastic reception of fiji s leader likened accorded rock star radio australia noted had been star of year s meeting, people of tonga , while tvnz reported had been given hero s welcome .

in terms of inter-governmental relations, tonga has avoided pressuring fiji s interim government holding democratic elections. however, tongan prime minister dr.feleti sevele has urged bainimarama produce credible roadmap election according constitution , law of fiji .

tonga s soft approach fiji s unelected government during regional meeting in october 2007 in line approach chosen other pacific island nations, contrasted harder stance adopted australia , new zealand. tongan government rejected several [...] attempts new zealand prime minister helen clark lobby commodore bainimarama s exclusion meeting .

in august 2008, prime minister of tonga, dr sevele said @ pacific islands forum meeting

unfortunately, forum’s relationship interim government of fiji has deteriorated apparent, promising situation @ forum last year in tonga, 1 of disappointment , of uncertain future. forum leaders, extremely disappointed @ interim prime minister’s decision not attend forum meeting. chair of last year’s forum meeting in tonga , chair of last 12 months, let me place on record fact commitments commodore bainimarama made @ leaders’ retreat not forced on him, has been claimed.

he agreed , accepted 7-point communiqué on fiji, , told leaders present @ retreat. sir michael somare , did not pressure him making commitments.

we, , leaders, were, , are, keen on helping fiji move forward, fiji has play due part. interim prime minister has obligation explain in person forum leaders why not fulfill commitments, , looking forward doing @ forum in niue. chose not unfortunate , disappointing.

in may 2009, however, sevele questioned purpose of fiji s suspension forum (which had taken place on may 2), , suggested pointless ostracise fiji. tvnz described tonga s position crack [...] in hard line being taken against fiji forum.

in february 2011, sevele s successor, lord tuʻivakanō, stated australia , new zealand s pressure on fiji counter-productive, , more bother[ed] bainimarama, more might opposite of sought. added: maybe go easy , come around. need remember is opportunity other countries, maybe china step in. [...] there s lot of other countries looking in , fiji s said don t want australia, don t want new zealand, these people s going us.

trade

in december 2005, fiji welcomed tonga s accession world trade organisation.

in 2001, fijian government banned import of mutton flaps tonga. tongan ministry of labour said in response on issue tonga’s experience fiji example of difficulties encountered small developing nations in protecting interests . tongan ministry said illustrates difficulty , huge onus multilateral trading system places on small , vulnerable developing countries, lack necessary resources, capital , institutional means implement wto agreements.

aviation

in august 2007, fijian government called review of fiji/tonga air services agreement allow increased capacity on route 350 1000 passengers in each direction. march 2008, new aviation agreement had been reached. fijian government said

this has been factored agreement reached 2 states in march 2008 increase seat capacity 350 1000 per week no restrictions aircraft types or frequencies , both countries had agreed this. new provision assist or facilitate movement of tourist between tonga , fiji.

2010/2011: minerva reefs , mara conflicts

beginning in late 2010, , escalating in 2011, diplomatic tensions opposed fiji , tonga on 2 partially simultaneous issues. though presented separately here clarity, being referred simultaneously may 2011.

territorial disagreement

both fiji , tonga lay claim minerva reefs, lie between 2 countries. historically, reefs said have lain in fishing grounds of people of ono-i-lau, in fiji. in 1972, tonga annexed reefs, had not formally been claimed state, fiji has not recognised annexation, , has stated considers reefs lie within territory. in late 2010, fiji responded news tonga had begun construction of lighthouse on 1 reef, saying fiji reserved right take means necessary preserve territorial integrity.

in february 2011 fiji government said there no official dispute between 2 countries on issue, officials 2 sides discussing matter of reefs ownership , usage. fiji government official added: government of fiji reiterates position, far it’s concerned minerva reef reef. , such lies within economic, exclusive economic zone of fiji. , government of fiji reserves right within directory. fiji foreign affairs permanent secretary solo mara clarified there no conflict , merely overlapping claims on countries maritime boundary, in context of claims extended continental shelf beyond 200 mile exclusive economy zone - provided under un convention on law of sea . officials 2 countries hold discussions determine maritime boundary.

in late may 2011, during tension on tevita mara affair (see below), fiji navy vessels visited minerva , ordered new zealand bound yachts out of lagoon. destroyed navigation beacons had been set tonga. tongan government issued statement in protest. fiji’s deputy permanent secretary of foreign affairs sila balawa subsequently told fiji broadcasting corporation tonga remained 1 of fiji’s closest friends , , that, although fiji owned reef located within country’s exclusive economic zone, fiji hoped disagreement resolved through peaceful dialogue .

in june, 2 tongan navy ships sent reef replace navigational beacons destroyed fijians, , reassert tonga s claim territory. fijian navy ship in vicinity reportedly withdrew tongans approached, leading new zealand s 1 news comment military conflict between 2 countries had narrowly been averted. press release tongan government described fiji s destruction of tongan navigational beacons act of vandalism posing real danger international shipping , adding tonga , fijian military junta , should resolve territorial dispute under international law settlement of disputes between civilized societies . simultaneously people s daily, citing fiji intelligence sources , reported on june 13 3 fijian naval ships on way minerva reef confront 2 tongan navy ships there.

extraction of tevita mara

in may 2011, lieutenant-colonel tevita mara, former fiji army officer, had been charged plotting attempt overthrow bainimarama, fled fiji boat, , picked tongan patrol boat , taken tonga. tongan authorities issued statement saying had picked him after responding distress signal, , in nuku alofa arrangements have been made accommodation royal household office in deference rank . bainimarama issued statement saying royal tongan navy ship had entered fijian territorial waters without authorisation carry out illegal extraction of wanted man; added government took strong exception such breaches of fiji s sovereignty . announced issue formal protest tongan prime minister lord tu ivakano, , seek mara s extradition fiji face charges. tui vakano replied tonga s independent judiciary hear fiji s case extradition, without interference tongan government, , added tonga had no wish interfere in fiji s domestic affairs.

ʻakilisi pohiva, leader of tongan opposition, described entry of tongan navy vessel fiji waters pick fugitive clear breach of relations between 2 countries, added justifiable on humanitarian grounds.

on may 21, 4 days after first reports on incident, tongan government issued statement saying had received no request mara s extradition, note fijian authorities containing called unsubstantiated assertions , personal statement prime minister of republic of fiji, commodore josaia voreqe bainimarama . subsequently, having acknowledged receipt of extradition request, tongan government indicated have go through proper channels legal advice before can proceed further  ; authorities not interfere judicial process. in june, however, authorities granted mara tongan citizenship, along passport.

radio australia reported relations between 2 countries has soured dramatically result of incident.

on june 10 tongan navy vessels moved occupy minerva reef, unsigned press statement on website of fiji government denounced presence of tongan navy boats within fiji’s eez @ minerva reef , issue of tongan passport mara , tongan government’s inaction on extradition papers , describing them web of deceit, collusion , complete lack of disregard [sic] of legal extradition processes . blaming australia , new zealand, statement said tongans seen presence @ minerva reef manipulated through offerings of gifts , aid try , turn ante , adding: far fiji concerned there no mara or tonga/fiji situation. rudd , mccully spreading wings save face situation , in reference australian , new zealand foreign affairs ministers kevin rudd , murray mccully. stuff.co.nz described statement unprecedented attack on new zealand, tonga , australia, remarking: statement on website out of kilter previous fiji government statements raises questions on in control in suva.

in late june, tongan government formally informed fiji government tongan law made impossible extradite mara.