By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – A new council made up of six political parties met in Suva to express support for the interim government to hold elections in 2011.  The council is called the Peoples Movement for Political Reform (PEMPOR) and is demanding that Australia and New Zealand withdraw sanctions against Fiji.  PEMPOR also proposes elections be held only for the right reasons and not due to threats of isolation, they also call for respect for the integrity of the judicial system in Fiji.

The parties involved in PEMPOR are the General Voters Party, the Conservative Alliance / Matanitu Vanua Party, the Justice & Freedom Party, the National Allicance Party, the Party of National Unity, and Soqosoqo Ni Vakavulewa Ni Taukei.  The chair of the meeting, John Sanday of the General Voters Party, said Fiji People’s Party General Secretary, Charan Jeath Sing also indicated his support.

Sanday said, “We are formed to support the Presidential Dialogue Forum, and we will work with the interim Prime Minister to move the country forward and help restore democracy in Fiji.”  The council said that general elections could be held in three years because the country needs time to make their operations “clean and transparent.”

Sanday added, “Fiji has a legitimate Government and elections should not be held with guns held to our heads and comply with the threat to do it their way or be suspended from certain groups.”

PEMPOR expects five more parties to join and plans to hold a meeting with the interim government to discuss ways to help move the country forward.  PEMPOR secretary Meli Bogileka said the members highlighted the fact that major political parties were working towards their own agenda.

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times – Parties criticise move to suspend Fiji – 15 December 2008

Pacific Magazine – New Political Coalition Backs Fiji Elections in 2011 – 14 December 2008

Fijilive – Political parties back 2011 poll – 13 December 2008