Change in FCO travel advice for Fiji and the CCC Expedition
Added to website: 20 November 2006
On Monday 27th November 2006 at 1603 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office changed their travel advisory to read:
We advise against all but essential travel to Fiji because of increasing tensions in the relationship between the Government of Fiji and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. The Fiji Military Commander has issued a number of ultimatums demanding that the Government resign. On 21 November, the Commander announced that military action would be taken if his demands were not met by 4 December 2006. On 25 November 2006, all military reservists were recalled and there is now a strong possibility of a military coup taking place in Fiji. The security situation could deteriorate at short notice. The British High Commission in Fiji is monitoring events closely.
The current political tensions between the Fijian government and the military are reaching crisis point and the FCO are now advising against all but essential travel to Fiji. While civil unrest is not certain it is looking likely with a date of the 4th December being discussed.
CCC has made contact with both the FCO Fiji desk in the UK and the embassy in Suva and we have been advised that the safest action bearing in mind the situation is for our personnel and volunteers to remain on Dravuni Island. CCC supports this view as the expedition site is a remote island that will be far from civil strife. It is likely that airports and airlines and seaports will be highly congested and it will be very difficult to change flights as all foreign nationals will already be attempting this. Our expedition staff are currently conducting an extended supply run to allow the base to function for six to seven weeks without a need for a return to an urban area.
All volunteers and staff have been informed of our strong recommendation to stay on the site and this will be offered to them at no extra cost until it is deemed safe to further travel. Next of kin are being informed with the same advice.
While we anticipate that this civil unrest will likely to last only a few weeks at most, all volunteers and staff departing for the site in the next few months need to check their travel advisory regularly, contact CCC HQ if they have any concerns and discuss the issue with their travel insurance company. CCC is offering any future Fiji volunteers who are concerned about going to the country, the opportunity to transfer to our Philippines marine project.
If you have any concerns or questions you can contact CCC during office hours (0900 to 1800) on 0870 7500667. Out of office ours our emergency line is operative on 0207 8745217.
