By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

ALOFI, Niue — Last week Fiji’s interim government decided to boycott a meeting of the Pacific Island Forum in Niue and the move has caused rumbles throughout the region.  In the wake of their no-show other members of the Forum have threatened to take action against Fiji.

The leaders at the Pacific Forum, who have paid particular attention to Fiji’s movement towards restoring democratic elections after its December coup in 2006, have called Fiji’s lack of attendance unacceptable. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Helen Clark, described Fiji’s non-attendance in light of their recent announcement that democratic elections would not be held on the original 2009 timetable.  “They have also signalled that they are not going to just let the issue drop, they did accept undertakings in good faith, that there is no technical, administrative, managerial reasons why elections cannot be held by March next year. Only political will is lacking.”

One proposed sanction for Fiji is for the country to be suspended from the Forum.  However, this solution is far from certain because any the suspension of Fiji could cause a cessation of aid money from the European Union and the United Nations.

Despite the statements of Pacific leaders, Fiji’s interim government has maintained that it did not transgress by not attending the meeting in Niue.  Fiji’s Interim Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, said that claims that Fiji did not attend because of its election timetable are “misleading” and that the real reason was because of the political agenda of New Zealand and Australia.  Frank Bainimarama also called on the 16 member nations of the Pacific Island Forum to not allow the Forum to become a tool of New Zealand and Australian foreign policy.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times — Interim PM makes fresh unity call — 25 August 2008

Radio Australia — Fiji warns Forum to watch out for Australia, New Zealand — 23 August 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji interim government blames New Zealand for its “no-show” at Forum summit — 21 August 2008

Radio New Zealand International — NZ prime minister says suspension would damage Fiji economy — 21 August 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Forum considers suspending Fiji if it reneges on election commitments — 21 August 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji won’t lose much if suspended from Forum, says Chaudhry — 21 August 2008