It is political status quo for Fiji for next three years

[posted 1 July 2009, 1600]

Fiji’s political landscape will remain unchanged for the next three years at least - this was made clear in the Interim Prime Minister’s address to the nation today.

It is political status quo for Fiji for next three years
[posted 1 July 2009, 1600]
Fiji’s political landscape will remain unchanged for the next three years at least - this was made clear in the Interim Prime Minister’s address to the nation today.

 

 

 

Pacific Islands Forum suspends Fiji

[posted 4May 2009,1700]

As anticipated, the Pacific Islands Forum moved swiftly to action its decision to suspend Fiji’s full participation in the Pacific Islands Forum, effective 2 May 2009.

The decision to suspend Fiji was taken at a special meeting of the Forum in Port Moresby last January, following Fiji’s failure to provide a credible road map for the restoration of democratic rule.

At that meeting, Forum leaders decided that Fiji would be suspended unless:

• Fiji’s Interim Government nominates an election
date by 1st May 2009; and

• election is held by the end of December 2009

The Fiji Interim Government had preempted the Forum’s decision by taking precipitate action on 10 April, following its loss in the Fiji Court of Appeal in a case filed by the deposed PM Laisenia Qarase. The Court ruled that the overthrow of the elected Qarase Government was unlawful and that the appointment of the Interim (military-led) Government of Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was unlawful.

Faced with the Court judgment, the President moved quickly to:

• abrogate the (1997) Constitution

• dismiss the Judges of the High Court, Court of Appeal
and the Supreme Court

• defer the holding of elections to September 2014

• declare a state of emergency, thus placing restrictions on freedom of assembly, expression and association

Additional to the above, the Interim Government put the news media under censorship banning the broadcast or publication of any dissent or criticism of the authorities.

Fiji’s suspension from the Forum will result in:

(i) suspension of participation by the Leader, Ministers and officials of the Fiji Interim Government in all Forum meetings and events; and

(ii) ineligibility if the Fiji Interim Government to benefit from Forum regional cooperation initiatives, and new financial and technical assistance, other than assistance toward the restoration of democracy under the framework of the Biketawa Declaration

(For full text of the statement by the Forum Chair on Fiji’s suspension refer to www.forumsec.org.fj)