Pacific Island Forum threatens Fiji expulsion
Eric Witte August 22nd, 2008
The 16-nation Pacific Island Forum yesterday unanimously warned the regime of Fiji that the country could be suspended from the regional body if it does not soon return to democratic rule. From the BBC report:
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the region was speaking with ‘a united voice’ in demanding a return to democracy in the small archipelago.
Fijian leader Frank Bainimarama seized power in a December 2006 coup.
He had previously pledged to hold polls by March 2006 but now claims lengthy electoral reforms are needed first.
He sparked outrage when he boycotted this week’s meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, which ends on Thursday.
In a unanimous statement, forum participants demanded Mr Bainimarama account for why he had not kept to ‘undertakings given at the 2007 forum in Tonga to hold an election by March 2009′.
The statement charged a ministerial task force with reporting back to the forum on progress towards holding elections in Fiji by the end of this year.
Should progress be shown to be insufficient, measures including Fiji’s suspension from the group would be considered, the statement said.
It is the first time the 16-nation forum has threatened to suspend a member in its 37-year history.
