By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The European Union extended its sanctions against Fiji for six more months as a result of the post-coup government’s failure to respect human rights.

The EU implemented these sanctions in 2007 after Fiji failed to follow up on its commitments on human rights, the constitution, and the postponement of parliamentary elections.

The sanctions were extended to pressure the Fiji government to restore democracy and respect human rights.

According to the advisor to the delegation of the EU in New Zealand, the European Development Fund will withhold funds as long as Fiji refuses to honor human rights and the rule of law.

A large number of the measures aimed at stopping EU development funding for the Fijian government.   The sanctions also impacted Fiji’s sugar industry.

Economists and academics alike say that the sugar sector will suffer immensely as a result of the sanctions.

Between 2006 and the present year Fiji would have received 86 million dollars of aid. However, all of the funding has expired, with the exception of 38 million US dollars available for the upcoming year.

A professor at the University of the South Pacific noted that “[b]efore the 2006 coup the European Union fund was going to be a major injection into the industry which would have supported not only the efficiency within the industry but would have rehabilitated and supported production and efficiency at the farm level.”

The foreign aid would have made the sugar industry more competitive.

The 27 countries comprising the EU were not the only ones to impose sanctions on Fiji after the December 2006 military coup.  The international community at large condemned the coup, and Australia, the United States, and New Zealand also sanctioned Fiji.

The EU claims that humanitarian aid and other support to the general public can continue.

For now, the sanctions will be in effect until at least October 1.

For more information please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Continued EU sanctions against Fiji a blow to sugar industry, says academic – 02 April 2010

Australia Network News – Europe extends Fiji sanctions – 30 March 2010

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji loses millions in EU aid with extension of sanctions against Suva – 30 March 2010

Business Day – EU extends sanctions against post-coup Fiji – 29 March 2010