Fiji agrees ‘in principle’ to elections between November 2008 and March 2009

An AFP report says that Fiji’s military regime said yesterday that it had agreed “in principle” to holding elections and returning the country to democracy by March 2009.

The decision follows a recommendation by a joint working party of the Fiji interim government and the Pacific Islands Forum, a regional political organisation, that elections should be held between November 2008 and March 2009.

In a statement the Fiji government said it accepted in principle the report of the working party, saying, “Cabinet has further agreed in principle that a parliamentary election in Fiji could be held in the first quarter of 2009.”

The international community condemned the December coup led by military chief Voreqe Bainimarama and demanded democracy be restored as soon as possible.

The European Union has threatened to withhold aid worth 200 million euros (268 million US) over seven years if elections are not held by March 2009.

Bainimarama said it was now up to the international community to provide the help Fiji needed to ensure elections could be held by the deadline.

The Interim Prime Minister has also called on the international community to normalise relations, saying, “If our economy continues on a downward spiral, how can Fiji be expected to return to parliamentary democracy sooner rather than later”.

“Fiji’s key foreign exchange earner tourism has gone into a slump since the bloodless coup and neighbouring countries, particularly Australia and New Zealand, needed to be more sensitive to Fiji’s situation.”

“What we need is for them not to interfere in our domestic affairs as we proceed along the road to parliamentary elections.”

“We need financial and technical assistance, but not at the expense of our sovereignty.”

Bainimarama was speaking a day after New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said her government would step up sanctions against Fiji following the expulsion of New Zealand ambassador Michael Green.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters described the announcement as a further step on the path back to democracy, adding, “It is, however, an ‘in principle’ acceptance only, and there is a long way to go before elections can actually be held”.

He added, “We shall be watching closely the implementation of the report by Fiji’s interim administration, as well as the practical measures they need to take to prepare for elections”.

Green returned to New Zealand Tuesday after Bainimarama last week expelled him for allegedly interfering in domestic affairs, a claim Wellington has denied.

He told reporters in Auckland he was not hopeful about the prospects for Fiji under the military regime, which has been accused of beating and intimidating opponents and of undermining the independence of the judiciary and police.

“There’s enormous disparity between the things his administration says it stands for, good governance, transparency, accountability, and what they actually do.”

Clark said Monday New Zealand would draw up a “serious and significant” response to the expulsion.

New Zealand has already cut ministerial ties with Fiji, banned those linked to the military regime from travelling to New Zealand and stopped aid being channelled through Bainimarama’s government.

Report by The Mole