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Fiji's military government appears to be pressing ahead with moves to replace many of its overseas diplomats, with reports a top soldier will be moving to New York to take up a United Nations posting.
The move comes as Malaysia's oldest human rights group urges its country to
distance itself from Fiji's regime, which is trying to appoint an army officer to be its envoy to Kuala Lumpur.
Radio Fiji today reported Lieutenant Colonel Mason Smith would be heading to New York in two weeks to take up a diplomatic posting for Fiji at the United Nations.
Recent reports said negotiations were underway between America and Fiji to allow Smith to enter the United States, which suspended all official visits by senior Fiji military officials after last year's military coup.
The United States Embassy in Suva could not immediately confirm whether Smith had been issued a visa.
It is expected Smith will be involved in UN peacekeeping operations.
Fiji's military government is recalling envoys it considers to be political appointees of the ousted government.
It recently appointed army spokesman Major Neumi Leweni as Fiji's defence attache to China and has recalled envoys to New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia.
Fiji's interim Foreign Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau denied the military regime in his country was replacing its foreign diplomats with soldiers.
"That is completely false. Completely false. You wait until the names come out," he told AAP.
He said Fiji's Land Force Commander Colonel Pita Driti would be named as high commissioner to Malaysia as soon as he got confirmation from the country.
A statement from Aliran, a Malaysian group that champions freedom and democracy, today urged its government to consider human rights when allowing the appointment of a new Fiji high commissioner.
Driti has drawn criticism since he took part in the December 5 military coup.
Soldiers under his command have been accused of beatings, sexual assaults and killings.
Aliran president P Ramakrishnan (P Ramakrishnan) issued a statement saying Driti's appointment as Fiji's high commissioner to Malaysia should be considered in light of claims about his human rights record.
"We would urge Malaysia to take into consideration his role in the overthrow of the government of Fiji," Ramakrishnan said.
"Malaysia has always advocated peaceful and democratic transition of government through the electoral process and it should therefore consider distancing itself from those who come to power through the barrel of the gun," he said.
In April Driti said he would like to see the Australian and New Zealand high commissions in Fiji closed down.
- AAP
