29 Apr 2009

Fiji military says no news from UN on changes to peace keepers

2:30 pm on 29 April 2009

The Fiji interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says he has not heard from the UN on changes to its use of Fiji peace keepers.

The UN stopped hiring new Fiji forces after the 2006 military coup but has continued to employ those already in its service.

This week, the Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, restated that the UN had stopped hiring new Fiji forces.

Speaking to Auckland's Radio Tarana before leaving for Indonesia, Commodore Bainamarama questioned what Mr Rudd aimed to achieve with his comment.

"Is it going to help improve the lives of the Aborigines in Australia? Why he is making that statement when there is none forthcoming from the United Nations."

Commodore Frank Bainimarama

The UN has been criticised for using Fiji troops in view of the Fiji military's domestic record.