Fugitive and former 3FIR Commanding Officer, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara is now travelling with a Tongan passport and has already been allowed to enter Australia.
The Fiji Government has expressed disappointment at Australia's issuing of the travel visa to Mara.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola was formally advised yesterday that Canberra has issued a visa for Ratu Tevita Mara to travel to Australia, where he will address a meeting in New South Wales tomorrow.
Kubuabola expressed his disappointment that Australia had so quickly issued a visa to Mara on Tongan travel documents, rather than awaiting a response from Tonga to Fiji's extradition request.
He added that by intervening, Australia has shown little regard for achieving a resolution to the matter and their action in welcoming a fugitive from Fiji risks an escalation of tension in Fiji-Australia relations.
Meanwhile Mara has also requested for a visa to enter New Zealand.
The NZ government is yet to announce whether the visa will be issued to Mara.
Story by: Paradise Tudrau and Vijay Narayan
From: MinFo
