Commonwealth ministers warn Fiji could face suspension [1]
Friday, March 6, 2009 - 17:37. Updated on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 16:29.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) gave Fiji's Interim Government a stern warning on Wednesday, March 4, that it could face suspension from the Commonwealth if it fails to meet the benchmarks that were set out by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in their meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on January 27.
The Pacific Islands Forum leaders gave Fiji until May 1, 2009 to announce a date for general election to be held no later than December 2009 or face suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum.
In a Press Statement, the CMAG stated that "should sufficient progress not take place, consistent with the benchmarks set out in the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Communique, Fiji Islands will be fully suspended from the Commonwealth at the Group's next meeting in September 2009." CMAG also agreed that in the absence of satisfactory progress in Fiji toward an election, "it would convene an earlier meeting."
The CMAG Meeting in London on March 4 was chaired by Hon. Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda, and was also attended by Hon. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister for Justice and Attorney General of Ghana; Hon Marco Hausiku, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Namibia; Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand; Hon Samuel T Abal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Papua New Guinea; Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia; Ms Gillian Merron MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom; Mr Elridge Stephens, High Commissioner of St Lucia to the United Kingdom; and Mr Sumith Nakandala, Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom.
The CMAG recalled that, at its meeting in New York on 27 September 2008, it had strongly reaffirmed the importance of the March 2009 deadline for elections to be held in Fiji, which had earlier been pledged to the region, the international community and the people of Fiji by the Interim Government.
The Group deplored the fact that Fiji remained in contravention of Commonwealth values and principles; that CMAG's call for the Interim Government to adhere to its March 2009 deadline for holding elections had not been heeded; and that the Interim Government had not indicated an alternative date for elections.
The Group also noted that the Millbrook Action Programme provided for a two-year period for the restoration of democracy, failing which various measures for non-compliance could be considered; in the case of Fiji, this deadline had passed in December 2008.
Meanwhile, CMAG agreed that Fiji should remain suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth.