UN open to engagement in returning Fiji to democracy

[posted 8 June 2009, 13.30]

The United Nations says it remains open to continuing its engagement in helping Fiji return to constitutional democracy at the earliest possible date.

However, UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe reiterated that, “… any future UN mediation can only be based on the fundamental principles articulated by the United Nations and the Commonwealth, namely, that the dialogue must be independent, inclusive in participation, time-bound and without prejudice as to its outcome.”

Mr Pascoe was responding to a letter from FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry to the UN on 14 April 2009 seeking clarification on the status of its mediation role regarding the President’s Political Dialogue Forum (PPDF) following the events of 10 April 2009.

In his reply dated 28 May 2009, Mr Pascoe said the UN was still awaiting a response from the Fiji government to its last letter wherein it had highlighted these issues.

“We will be able to make further determinations with regard to the role of the United Nations once the position of the Government is communicated to us,” he said.

Reiterating UN’s position vis a vis Fiji, Mr Pascoe said: “ the abrogation of the Constitution, the dismissal of the judiciary, the imposition of emergency rule and the moves against the press are steps that go against the spirit of dialogue and Fiji’s early return to constitutional order through elections.

“In a statement issued on 10 April, the Secretary General deplored these measures and called for the restoration of a legitimate government and the constitutional order in Fiji.

“You may know that on 20 April 2009, I briefed the Security Council on this matter. On the same day, in remarks to the Press, the President of the Council called these actions a clear step backwards, stressing the Council’s hope for the holding of free and fair elections as soon as possible,” Mr Pascoe said.

The UN and the Commonwealth had offered joint mediation services to help return Fiji to elections and democratic government through talks between political parties to be held at the President’s Political Dialogue Forum. This dialogue process was severely jeopardised by the abrogation of the Constitution and the imposition of emergency rule on 10 April 2009.