Commonwealth suspension

[posted 3 September 2009,11.30]

Fiji’s full suspension from the Commonwealth is regrettable but the FLP is relieved that it intends to stay engaged in seeking an early return to constitutional rule.

The Commonwealth move means that Fiji is being increasingly isolated from the international community – first it was suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum and now this.

Considering that Fiji receives little in the way of technical aid from the Commonwealth, the suspension is largely symbolic. Most affected by the decision will be the young men and women athletes who have been preparing arduously for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year.

“But the Commonwealth has sent a clear message that it means business. It wants the President’s Political Dialogue Forum (PPDF) reconvened immediately and pressing issues sorted out to facilitate the holding of general elections by October next year, “ Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said.

The Commonwealth has made every effort to assist Fiji return to constitutional rule. It sent two missions to Fiji jointly with the United Nations, it was prepared, again jointly with the UN, to help as facilitator/mediator in the President’s Political Dialogue Forum, he said.

The political dialogue initiative was aborted by the exclusion of SDL from the political leaders meeting and then, of course, completely abandoned after the abrogation of the Constitution and the imposition of Emergency Rule.

“We now await the arrival of the Commonwealth’s special representative who is due here next week to start dialogue with Fiji. It is time for the interim government to seriously consider getting the PPDF going with the view to restoring constitutional rule as soon as possible,” Mr Chaudhry said.

The interim government needs to re-look at its strategic framework roadmap which has been rejected by the Commonwealth and others in the international community. It has also not found favour with a majority of the people of Fiji who want our political and governance problems resolved by consensus, and an early return to constitutional rule.

The administration also needs to consider seriously the adverse consequences of Fiji being isolated from the international community and the negative publicity this is generating. The current climate is counter- productive to promoting Fiji as an investment destination.