By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji – After last month’s summit boycott, Fiji’s interim Prime Minister has expressed interest in resuming his country’s participation in the Pacific Forum.
The Pacific Islands Forum was originally founded in 1971 to promote peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity within the Pacific nations. Fiji was one of seven founding members. The group of independent and self-governing states is now sixteen strong.
Bainimarama’s request to re-engage with the Forum is surprising given the interim government’s recent attitude toward the Forum. In June, the interim government suspended discussions with the Forum Joint Working Group on Fiji. Last August, the Pacific Forum issued Fiji an ultimatum that either Bainimarama return his country to democratic rule by March 2009 or face suspension from the Forum. In addition, Bainimarama choose to boycott the Forum’s summit meeting in Niue last month.
In his letter to the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Niue’s Premier Toke Talagi, Bainimarama discussed proposals for Fiji’s return to democracy.
When interviewed, Talagi said the Forum was eager to continue their dialogue with Fiji:
“He wants to re-engage with the groups that have been working with them in the past, and that’s they joint consultative group and the ministerial contact group. And the Forum is pleased that he wants to do that because obviously we want to continue a dialogue to ensure that we can encourage them to hold elections by March as he promised.”
For more information, please see:
Fiji Times – Regime backs down, seeks Forum talks – 25 September 2008
Fiji Live – Fiji PM wins support from Cooks’ speaker – 25 September 2008
Radio New Zealand International – Pacific Forum chair welcomes Fiji moves to re-engage – 24 September 2008
Fiji Village – Revelations of Fiji Re-engaging In Forum – 24 September 2008
