By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s Interim Prime Minister has announced that elections will take place in December 2009.

Commodore Bainimarama met with two chiefs at an army camp for the Bose ni Turaga last month where he reportedly said that he plans to hold elections in December.

During the meeting, Ratu Peni Latianara told Bainimarama that the people of Fiji expect an answer as to when their country will return to democratic rule. In 2006, Bainimarama led a bloodless military coup of Fiji’s federal government. Since then, Bainimarama has promised to hold democratic elections, but has been sharply criticized for his refusal to set a date for those elections.

Ratu Peni said Bainimarama addressed the chiefs’ concerns, telling them that an election will be held this December.

The Fiji Times reports that Bainimarama could not be reached to comment on his alleged remarks. The permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s office, Parmesh Chand, also refused to comment, but did say that any electoral reforms would happen after the President’s political dialogue scheduled for late January.

Meanwhile, the Movement for Democracy in Fiji has announced its support today of the United Nations and Commonwealth’s joint goal to facilitate Fiji’s return to democracy.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s interim PM speaks of elections this December – 04 January 2009

The Fiji Times – Group hails political dialogue – 05 January 2009