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Fiji now fully suspended from Commonwealth

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Update: 8:38AM It is now official that Fiji is fully suspended from the Commonwealth. This means that the country will not be allowed to take part in any Commonwealth meetings or sporting events including the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Delhi next year.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, today announced that "Fiji stands fully suspended from membership of the Commonwealth with immediate effect. This is an announcement I make with deep regret -- it is a step the Commonwealth is now obliged to take, and one that it takes in sorrow."

"Since Fiji was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth following the military overthrow of civilian government in December 2006, sustained efforts have been made by the Commonwealth to engage the Interim Government, so as to promote a return to constitutional democracy, and to encourage a national dialogue aimed at tackling the underlying issues that led to this and past coups.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) last met on July 31, some two and three quarter years after the military overthrow. At that meeting, CMAG urged the Fiji regime to reactivate immediately the Presidents Political Dialogue Forum (PPDF) process, facilitated by the Commonwealth and the United Nations, in a manner that was independent, inclusive, time-bound and without any pre-determined outcome, and that would lead to credible elections in the country by October 2010.

CMAG had sought a firm commitment from Fiji to these terms by no later than September 1, failing which it would be fully suspended.

Although I received a letter from Commodore Bainimarama on August 21 reaffirming his commitment to the principles of the Commonwealth, his response did not meet the terms set out by CMAG on July 31, and I informed him of this in writing on 24 August.

"Accordingly, Fiji has today been fully suspended from the Commonwealth. I have informed the interim Prime Minister of Fiji of this decision. I have similarly informed Her Majesty the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth, and all Commonwealth governments.

The implications of the full suspension mean:

- representatives of the interim Government of Fiji will be excluded from participation at all inter-governmental Commonwealth meetings; likewise, nominees of the Interim Government will not be able to take part in other inter-governmental Commonwealth activities;

- Fiji will not be able to participate in Commonwealth sporting events;

- no Commonwealth technical assistance can be provided to Fiji, with the exception of assistance aimed at facilitating the restoration of democracy; while Fiji will remain a member of the Commonwealth, all emblematic representation of Fiji at the Commonwealth Secretariat, at Commonwealth meetings and all other official Commonwealth events will cease; and

- contact at professional and non-governmental levels with Fiji counterparts will be left to the discretion of individual pan-Commonwealth organisations.

Mr Sharma emphasised that the Commonwealth remained open to engaging with the Fiji interim Government towards the restoration of constitutional democracy in the country.

"I welcome the invitation from Commodore Bainimarama to meet my Special Representative in Fiji in September, and look forward to continuing my good offices engagement to promote adherence to Commonwealth principles and the welfare of the people of Fiji, he said.

Mr Sharma concluded by expressing the hope that Fiji would take the necessary steps to restore its full participation in the Commonwealth. We will continue all possible efforts to promote the restoration of Commonwealth principles and enduring adherence to them. We will also continue to bear fully in mind the welfare of the people of Fiji.