Commonwealth downgrades Fiji's suspension [1]
Monday, March 17, 2014 - 10:26
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group CMAG has downgraded Fiji's full suspension from the Commonwealth to suspension only from the councils of the Commonwealth on 14 March.
One of the immediate outcomes of the CMAG's decision is that Fiji will be eligible to participate in the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in July.
Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth in 2009, after the coup leader Commodore Bainimarama refused to corporate with a demand from the Commonwealth for Fiji to have a General election on 1 September 2009.
Bainimarama's refusal for an early election, while setting a date for September 2014, enabled him to put a few political reform programs in place.
A CMAG statement stated that during the 43rd meeting of the CMAG at the Marlborough House, London on 14 March it concluded that Fiji had made significant progress toward holding a national election in September.
The Group, however, urged for the Electoral Commission to be provided with the necessary independent authority and resources "to oversee the conduct of a credible and inclusive elections, on a level playing field."
The Group also stressed the importance of continuing improvements to human rights, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, including of the media, expression, association and assembly. It also encouraged Fiji to invite international observation of the election.
The meeting of the CMAG was chaired by Hon. Bernard K. Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania. It was also attended by Hon. Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus; Hon. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana; Hon. Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs of India; Hon. Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand (Vice Chair of CMAG); Hon. Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on National Security and Foreign Affairs; Hon. Dr Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone; Hon. Clay Forau Soalaoi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands; and Hon. Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka.