Fiji needs helps and the Pacific Islands Forum countries should engage and maintain an on going dialogue with the Fijian regime and help them to find their way back to normality, the Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele said on Television Tonga on April 15.

"Tonga's view on the Fiji situation remains firm in a position that we have taken in the past," said Dr Feleti Sevele.

In January, before Dr Sevele left for a special Forum Leaders' meeting in Papua New Guinea on Fiji, he was asked to comment on suggestion by some Forum Island leaders to suspend Fiji's membership from the Forum because the interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama failed to keep his words and hold an election in March. The Prime Minister responded that Tonga's position on the Fijian upheaval is ". . . that we would work toward finding a way forward for Fiji."

The Prime Minister in his television program stressed the importance for Forum Island countries to maintain communication with Fiji.

"Perhaps this is a time when Fiji needs help, so before looking at expulsion let's consider what Fiji requires that we can help with so to spare damaging people's lifestyles, at the same time speed up their coming to the line which the majority deems they should be on in terms of running their country and restoring their judiciary.

"I think what we should look for avenues where we can help," said Dr Feleti Sevele.