Australia seems to soften travel sanction on Fiji military regime

SUVA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia seems to ease travel sanction policy on the Fiji military regime, according to local website Fijivillage on Tuesday.

In this regard, the latest evidence is that Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was allowed to transit through Australia to go to Brussels for an international meeting.

A few months ago, Colonel Pio Tikoduadua, the Permanent Secretary at Fiji Prime Minister's Office, was allowed to travel to Canberra.

Some family members of Fiji senior officials have also been given visas to travel to Australia without any issues.

Australia and New Zealand have imposed sanctions on current Fiji regime which took power through the military coup in 2006.

Serious concerns have been raised since 2006 that the travel sanction policy on Fiji's military, the government and its appointees, and their families are not helping Fiji move forward.

In the past few months, things have changed. However, the Australian High Commission in Fiji has refused to make comment about the evident softening of the policy, stressing that they will not comment on individual visa issues.

Sourced: Xinhuanet