Fiji’s suspension result of regime's failure to comply

[posted 9 Sept 2009, 1700]

Fiji’s suspension from the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands Forum resulted from the interim government’s failure to observe the values and principles on which these institutions are founded.

It was not at the behest of any political party, political leader or NGO as reportedly claimed by Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Fiji had failed to Fiji was given ample opportunity by both the Forum and the Commonwealth to workout a credible roadmap for the restoration of democracy and constitutional rule. It must be remembered that Fiji remained a member of these institutions until the abrogation of the Constitution and the imposition on the people of Emergency Rule with severe curtailment of their basic rights.

The Fiji Labour Party certainly did not write to the Pacific Islands Forum or the Commonwealth seeking Fiji’s suspension. What it did write with the full approval of its Management Board, was to apprise these institutions of the actual ground situation here, following the abrogation of the Fiji Constitution, the sacking of the judiciary, imposition of media censorship and curtailment of the basic rights of the people under the Public Emergency Regulations.

Interim Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama was also similarly notified in a letter dated 3 August 2009, jointly signed by FLP President Jokapeci Koroi and the Leader of the Party Mahendra Chaudhry. He did not respond to the Party’s request to discuss the political and economic situation of the country.