Fiji fugitive could apply for NZ asylum

Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Uluilakeba Mara is considering applying to live in New Zealand. Photo / supplied

Former Fiji army chief Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Mara has started looking at applying to live in New Zealand.

Lt Col Mara sparked tensions between Fiji and Tonga when he fled to Tonga after being charged with sedition.

Fiji interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, who came into power following a coup in 2006, has declared the former army commander a fugitive and has issued an extradition application to bring him back to face a trial.

Lt Col Mara believed he would not get a fair hearing in Fiji.

He said he might make a formal application to seek asylum in New Zealand and was already in informal discussions, Radio New Zealand said.

He was also talking with people in other countries, he said.

On Tuesday Prime Minister John Key said government officials were looking into whether he could be given political asylum.

"The way we assess whether someone is able to come or not to New Zealand is subject to whether they are supporting the regime, and that means they are a family member or directly involved in the coup.

"By definition, Tevita Mara is not. That doesn't mean as a right he can come to New Zealand, but that is something MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) is looking at."

- NZPA