Fiji’s suspension regrettable, says Labour

[posted 4 May 2009,1700]

The Fiji Labour Party has described Fiji’s suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) as a determined move by the Forum to isolate Fiji from the international community for its failure to hold general elections in 2009.

“The decision to suspend is regrettable but it was expected as announced following a special meeting of the Forum in Port Moresby in January,” said FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.

He said the Forum was applying the provisions of the Biketawa Declaration which provides for sanctions against member nations in default of their obligations to the Forum.

“In view of the abrogation of the Constitution, the dismissal of the judiciary and the deferment of general elections to September 2014, as announced by the President on April 10, it is doubtful that the joint mediation by the United Nations and the Commonwealth Secretariat at the proposed President’s Political Dialogue Forum will now proceed.

“In the event, it is imperative that political dialogue be resumed urgently between the Interim Government and Fiji’s mainstream parties to seek a solution to the current impasse.

“The situation is extremely disconcerting given the rapidly deteriorating state of the economy and the added hardship brought about by the massive (20%) devaluation of the Fiji dollar.

“We must understand that we are too small and too vulnerable to withstand the prolonged effects of remaining on the edge. Our people are already reeling under the strains of rising unemployment, escalating cost of living and the spread of poverty,” said Mr Chaudhry.