By Sarah E. Treptow

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Commonwealth Ministerial Group (CMAG) will meet later this month to consider further steps to return Fiji to democratic rule.  In August Fiji was given an ultimatum by the Pacific Forum, consisting of sixteen nations, to return to democratic rule by March of 2009 or risk suspension from the Forum.  The Forum was established in 1971 and no country has ever been suspended.  Fiji has been a key member and it is based in Suva.  Bainimarama has resisted the ultimatum, claiming before returning to democratic election the country needs to adopt his People’s Charter which he says will end Fiji’s race-based elections.

New Zealand’s trade minister, Phil Goff, will represent Helen Clark, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister at the CMAG meeting in New York. Mr. Goff reports he will support the Pacific Forum’s stance, “I think that we would like to see the Pacific Islands Forum, the Commonwealth and the United Nations working arm in arm to bring whatever pressure and encouragement can be brought on the Fiji interim government to restore to the people of that country, their normal democratic rights.”  Mr. Goff will be attending the meeting in place of Ms. Clark because he will already be in the area.  She has stressed the importance of New Zealand’s presence at the meeting saying, “It’s absolutely critical. We have views on Fiji and they will be central to the meeting.”

CMAG is convened by the Secretary-General and is composed of foreign ministers of nine Commonwealth countries.  The group is the “guardian of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values and addresses and takes action in response to breaches.”

Returning Fiji to democratic rule remains the only thing on CMAG’s agenda for the New York meeting.

For more information, please see:

The Fiji Times – CMAG to discuss Fiji – 16 September 2008

Radio New Zealand International – New Zealand Minister to seek Commonwealth and UN support for Forum’s Fiji stance – 15 September 2008

The National Business Review – Goff will represent NZ at meeting on Fiji – 15 September 2008

Stuff – Fiji’s Bainimarama defiant: We go alone – 22 August 2008