By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji – Yesterday, Fiji’s Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, addressed the United Nations in New York in the wake of the European Union’s decision to extend its trade sanctions on Fiji until March 2010. The international community has urged Fiji’s government to rethink its position.
The EU refuses to provide Fiji with any development aid until it demonstrates a commitment to return to a democratic state. This aid was aimed at improving Fiji’s economy by assisting, for one, the sugar industry. Poverty levels in Fiji’s rural communities continue to rise, and its people are extremely discontented.
According to a professor from the School of Economics at the University of the South Pacific, Wadan Narsey, the EU’s decision is indicative of the international community’s increasing concern about the situation in Fiji.
“For the European Union to say that they are going to continue with these sanctions for another six months ought to be taken very seriously by this military government that they have got to rethink their strategy forward,” Narsey said.
Fiji’s government refuses to hold elections until 2014. This timeline is unacceptable, according to Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary General for the Commonwealth of Nations, who met with Prime Minister Bainimarama in New York on September 25th.
Sharma also reiterated the Commonwealth members’ disapproval of the human rights situation in Fiji. He further stated that the Government should rescind the Public Emergency Regulation, an act extending a broad range of powers to the government, including the power to censor the media. The pair was unable to reach an agreement.
On September 26th, Bainimarama addressed the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly international community. He plans to put a new constitution into place by September 13th. “The basis for the new constitution will be the ideals and principles formulated by the People’s Charter for Change and Progress, a document prepared following widespread consultation with, and input from, the people of Fiji”.
The Prime Minister claims that Fiji’s history shows a great deal of “mismanagement, corruption and nepotism”. He requested that the international community have patience as Fiji attempts to overcome its past.
He further expressed his disappointment with the UN’s decision to exclude Fiji troops from participating in peacekeeping operations. Although he did not explicitly mention Australia or New Zealand, it is no secret that these countries are Fiji’s strongest critics.
In December 2006 Bainimarama staged the fourth coup in Fiji since 1987. The Commonwealth suspended Fiji’s membership on September 1.
For more information, please see:
Fiji Village – PM calls for patience and understanding – 27 September 2009
Radio New Zealand News – No agreement between Commonwealth and Fiji – 27 September 2009
TVNZ – Fiji urged to change election plans – 27 September 2009
Xinhua News – Fiji asks critics to have patience during the reform period – 27 September 2009
ABC News – Bainimarama to address UN General Assembly – 26 September 2009
The Associated Press – Fiji stung by exclusion from new UN peacekeeping – 26 September 2009
UN News Centre – At UN, Fijian regime asks critics to have patience during reform period – 26 September 2009
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji regime urged to rethink its stance as EU sanctions continue – 25 September 2009
