In his parting address as chairman of the Pacific Island Forum, Niue Premier Toke Talagi expressed deep concern for the welfare of Fijians under the administration of Fiji’s leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
But Rudd, who is taking over as Pacific Forum chairman appeared to rebuff that position.
“We advocate — and strongly advocate — a peaceful solution,” he said after the leaders meeting.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, said a call for civil disobedience in Fiji was unhelpful.
Key said he wouldn’t go as far as to say Talagi’s remarks are insightful, but he describes them as unhelpful.
“You can’t have a good coup and a bad coup, we have encouraged Frank Bainimarama to engage in dialogue with the Forum leaders in Fiji, both with Qarase and with Chaudhry, we think that’s the right course of action, not some sort of uprising by the people against the military coup,” Key told Radio New Zealand International.
