PM Danny Philip: “We will maintain our all-embracing policy on Fiji

PM Philip: “We will maintain our all-embracing policy on Fiji

PRIME Minister Danny Philip has been accused by Fijian political fugitive Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara of supporting what he described as an ‘unelected, illegal and corrupt’ Fiji regime.

According to the Pacific Scoop website, Ratu Mara had particularly harsh words for Prime Minister Philip, who he claimed has supported Bainimarama in resuming chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

“The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands conveniently forgets that many Fijian soldiers gave their lives for that country during World War Two and now he is siding with an unelected illegal and corrupt regime,” Ratu Mara said.

“With the support of the Solomon Islands, [the regime] has resumed chairmanship of the MSG and its plan is to use it as a front against Australia and New Zealand.”

Ratu Mara accused Prime Minister Philip for playing an instrumental part in helping the Fiji interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, obtain the MSG chairmanship.

This followed the MSG traditionally ceremony hosted by the Solomon Islands in Honiara, December year.

The Solomon Star understands Prime Minister Philip has a lot of respect for Commodore Bainimarama and he doesn’t want anything to spoil the relationship between Fiji and the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

“We will maintain our all-embracing policy on Fiji, making sure that Fiji - the most important thing to Solomon Islands is to get Fiji back on track of the 2014 election, democratic elections in Fiji,” the country’s Prime Minister said recently.

Meanwhile, Ratu Mara is planning to visit the Solomon Islands as he plans to make a whirlwind tour to the US and around the Pacific over the next month to promote his “pro-democracy” cause.

However, it is still unclear whether he would be meeting the Prime Minister when he arrives in Honiara.

The former lieutenant-colonel and a key officer in the 2006 military coup accused by human rights activists of being responsible for torture in the regime – allegations he denies – expects to visit Samoa, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Ratu Mara’s number one mission is to garner support from other Pacific nations for his cause of bringing democracy back to Fiji.