Lift emergency rule and talk:FLP

[posted 10 Aug 2009,1500]

Fiji Labour Party welcomes the decision by interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to engage with the Commonwealth for the restoration of democracy and constitutional rule in Fiji.

The interim PM announced last week that he intended to send an invitation to the Commonwealth Secretary-General requesting him to send a delegation to Fiji “to enter into direct dialogue and consultations”.

FLP believes that the government must re-establish dialogue with the United Nations and the Commonwealth, as well as the Pacific Islands Forum.

“The consequences of remaining stubborn will be disastrous for Fiji and her people,” Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said.

“The interim government must re-engage with the international community and resume the President’s Political Dialogue Forum (PPDF) process  jointly facilitated by the United Nations and the Commonwealth, that began prior to the events of 10 April 2009.
 
“The interim government must immediately lift the Emergency Rule to allow the dialogue process to take place and for the international community to re-engage with Fiji,” Mr Chaudhry said.