US Rebukes Wypijewsky

WE AT the American Embassy were surprised that, in your October 1987 issue, you ran Joann Wypijewski’s article alleging United States involvement in Fiji’s May 14 coup.

The article is no more than a web of fabrications, half-truths, unfounded allegations and facts out of context. We are surprised that you did not at least note that the US Government con demned that coup from the outset and immediately after the coup terminated all US assistance programs to Fiji actions that no government would take if it had sponsored those who seized power in Fiji.

In fact, the position of the US Government on developments in Fiji closely parallels that of the Australian, British and the New Zealand Governments.

In early October Ambassador Sta pleton Roy, Deputy Assistant Secre tary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, appeared before a subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives and referred to allegations of US involvement in the May 14 coup.

He categorically denied charges that the US was involved in or sympathetic toward the two coups by Colonel Rabuka.

He said: “The US Government had no knowledge of either coup before they took place. Had we had advance knowledge we would have strongly and vigorously opposed them.

“Throughout the recent develop ments in Fiji our overriding concern has been to preserve and restore parlia

mentary democracy so that the na tion’s political institutions could continue to reflect a broadly based consensus.

“Totally baseless suggestions that Ambassador Vemon Walters visited Fiji as part of an effort to undermine the Government of Prime Minister Ba vadra have, I think, been adequately refuted elsewhere. Suffice it to say that Ambassador Walters’ visit to the re gion had been long planned and was part of his annual pre-UN General As sembly consultations.

In the course of his trip he called on leaders in every Pacific island country accredited to the United Nations. His visit to Suva was approved in advance by the Government of Prime Minister Bavadra, and his schedule in Fiji was prepared in co-ordination with Dr Ba vadra’s own Foreign Ministry. The Ambassador’s discussions with Fiji Government leaders, particularly with Foreign Minister Datt, were cordial and constructive. We understand that Prime Minister Bavadra and his Cab inet colleagues shared that view.

“Our record in response to devel opments in Fiji since the elections last April, and before, have been fully con sistent with the American tradition of support for parliamentary democracy.

With that goal in mind, we will con tinue to use our influence to support progress toward a solution that is pro tective of the rights of all of Fiji’s people.”

Richard M Teare

Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of the USA Canberra, Australia