Fiji Suspended From Commonwealth?

Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, has cited lack of progress in Pacific island countries to democracy.

Mr. Sharma said he took the step – full suspension and the second in the history of the organization – “in pain”.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in Fiji in a coup in 2006 and stated that elections can not be restored in 2014, as part of its road-map. ”

He says he needs time to institute reforms that will end ethnic-based voting system tilted in favor of indigenous Fijians.

But critics insist that under his government, Fiji has suspended the Constitution, opponents arrested and suppressed freedom of expression.

“True Democracy”

In a statement, the Community declared that it had requested that Fiji is committed before September 1, to join negotiations with the opposition and the holding of credible elections in October 2010.
Mr. Sharma said that although the Commander Bainimarama reiterated his “commitment to the principles of the Commonwealth, who had breached the terms of the deadline of September 1.

He said that the suspension of Fiji as “one that the Community must take, and which is needed in pain.”

Commander Bainimarama reiterated his opposition to the timetable for elections in 2010, when he spoke to the Commercial Radio early Tuesday, news agency AFP.

“The government of Costa Rica estimated that the road-map is the only way to ensure sustainability and true democracy, which includes … to have elections in 2014, he said.

“We’ll continue with that.”

Fiji is already prohibited in the Commonwealth ministerial meetings. With full suspension, all aid will be cut off from the Commonwealth and Fiji will not be allowed to participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

However, any contact with Fiji Commonwealth must stop. In his Special Representative for the country, Sir Paul Reeves is scheduled to visit Costa Rica, 9-11 September – has actually received by Mr. Sharma in his statement.

Fiji has been suspended by the Regional Forum of the Pacific Islands, and some aid from the EU that the country has been suspended.

Costa Rica has had a checkered relationship with the Commonwealth. He was deported in 1987 after two military coups, but was readmitted 10 years later, when democracy was restored. It has also been suspended in 2000 for 18 months.

The only other country to be fully suspended in the history of the Republic is Nigeria, under the government of General Sani Abacha in 1995.

Nigeria returned to the Community after democracy was restored.

Pakistan has been suspended twice for Council meetings and Zimbabwe was being suspended when President Robert Mugabe before the transfer of walking by himself.

The Commonwealth is a grouping of 53 former British colonies, dependencies and other territories.