![Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara is in Tonga under the protection of the Royal household. [Youtube: Lt Col Mara]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tJb_9omNk9OTPupeHU6APVgOqe5knopvl1zyEAm398w3dVsTHhO4QkFUA9nzlBlqHbuIemto7Fj0MelwmNy2v7hIeErjOvqw34Ua3z5NdYWIpdEy3frJZLNwE=s0-d "Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara is in Tonga under the protection of the Royal household. [Youtube: Lt Col Mara]")
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A former Fijian commander now in exile says Australia and New Zealand should look at stronger sanctions against the interim regime.
Fiji is currently trying to extradite Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara from Tonga to face charges of sedition and mutiny.
The interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has pledged to hold elections in 2014, but Lt Col Mara says no preparations have been made for them.
Lt Col Mara has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program, the Australian businesses and research institutes that have called for the easing of sanctions against Fiji are wrong.
"The economic situation at the moment in Fiji is quite harsh, poverty has increased tremendously," he said.
"As I said, I'm no expert on sanctions. That is something that New Zealand and Australia seriously have to look at and see what more they can do, you know, to force the regime to put down concrete steps to go in the right direction."
Lt Col Mara is in Tonga under the protection of the Royal household.
He says he does not want to return to Fiji to face the charges, fearing the Interim Attorney General could interfere with the judiciary.
Fiji is currently trying to extradite Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara from Tonga to face charges of sedition and mutiny.
The interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has pledged to hold elections in 2014, but Lt Col Mara says no preparations have been made for them.
Lt Col Mara has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program, the Australian businesses and research institutes that have called for the easing of sanctions against Fiji are wrong.
"The economic situation at the moment in Fiji is quite harsh, poverty has increased tremendously," he said.
"As I said, I'm no expert on sanctions. That is something that New Zealand and Australia seriously have to look at and see what more they can do, you know, to force the regime to put down concrete steps to go in the right direction."
Lt Col Mara is in Tonga under the protection of the Royal household.
He says he does not want to return to Fiji to face the charges, fearing the Interim Attorney General could interfere with the judiciary.
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