Fiji Faces Possible Suspension in Face of Natural Disaster

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – If Australia has its way Fiji will face the real possibility of being suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum.  The decision will need to be endorsed by the leaders of 15 Forum Island Countries when they meet in a special session in Port Moresby at the end of the month.  The suspension will be a consequence of “failure to meet the faithful and unconditional undertaking the interim Fijian Prime Minister made to his colleague leaders.”

Stephen Smith, Australian foreign affairs minister, stressed Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s inactions at a media briefing, “He made it clear to the Foreign Ministers Ministerial Contact Group, of which I am a member, when he went to Fiji in the middle of December last year, that he wasn’t proposing to hold an election on timetable.”  Mr. Smith continued, “Consequences have to flow as a result of the failure of the Interim Prime Minister to meet the faithful and unconditional undertaking that he gave to his colleague leaders.”

When asked whether the current emergency situation in Fiji brought on by severe floods and a possible prolonged cyclone weather would affect commitments for national elections, Mr. Smith said, “I don’t think Commodore Bainimarama had the floods in mind when he gave a faithful and unconditional undertaking in October 2007 that he’d hold an election by the end of March this year.”  The floods and cyclones in Fiji have been described as the worst natural disaster in 50 years or more.

Economist Satish Chand, a leading Pacific expert at the Australian National University who grew up in Fiji, believes the disaster will make Fiij’s suspension less likely, “Such natural disasters can be catalysts bringing people together, bringing them to their senses, and I hope this will happen now, bringing together Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, though this requires Bainimarama to take the first step.”

Despite strained relations with Fiji, both Australia and New Zealand have committed humanitarian assistance through the Fiji Red Cross.  Mr. Smith said, “Can I also indicate that we are of course very concerned for the welfare of those in Fiji who’ve been adversely affected by the torrential rain and floods in Fiji.”

For more information, please see:
The Australian – Fiji rides a tide of sympathy – 17 January 2009

Islands Business – Fiji suspension still on – 15 January 2009

Solomon Times – Fiji Faces Suspension from Forum – 15 December 2008

Author: Impunity Watch Archive