An academic says a tougher stance on the Fiji regime from New Zealand and Australia would make matters worse.
Auckland University's Dr Steven Ratuva was responding to a call from senior Fiji military officer who's fled to Tonga, Ratu Tevita Mara, who says the metropolitan countries need to get tougher to bring down the Commodore Bainimarama government.
Dr Ratuva has in the past been critical of the targetted sanctions, saying they don't appear to achieved their aims, and a stronger approach also wouldn't work.
"I don't see how Australia and New Zealand can become even tougher. The only, the toughest one can go I suppose is for intervention of some kind, something I believe is not the best thing to do at this point in time. It will make things worse."