Fiji threatened with expulsion from the Commonwealth
In London, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett blasted the military takeover of Fiji as “wholly unconstitutional,” while Finland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of The European Union, called on coup leaders to return power to Fiji’s elected government adding, “This is a major setback to the process of democracy in Fiji and has damaged Fiji’s economy, international reputation, as well as its relations with the international community,” in which she announced immediate steps to suspend military assistance to the Pacific island nation.
After months of threats, Fiji’s military leader Commander Voreqe Bainimarama ignored international warnings and staged the coup arguing drastic action was needed against Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who he has accused of corruption.
“The likelihood of Fiji being suspended is very high,” Commonwealth sScretary General Don McKinnon told reporters, “the group unreservedly condemns any military action against a democratically elected government.”
Foreign Ministers from nine Commonwealth countries are to meet Friday to discuss the situation after Fiji’s military commander seized control of the country earlier in the day.
For its part, the Finnish presidency demanded “the military forces stand back and give way to democratically elected political government” and called in a statement for dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Fiji became independent in 1970 after 96 years of British rule. Three years earlier, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II was replaced as head of state in a military coup when a republic was proclaimed, with this latest coup prompting New Zealand and Australia to slap travel bans and other sanctions on the Pacific island nation’s Fiji’s military.
As the coup unfolded, both Wellington and Canberra rejected a request for military intervention by Fiji’s embattled Prime Minister, arguing it would only aggravate the situation.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard called the coup a “tragic setback” for the country, adding that had Australia intervened, possibility of Australian and Fijian troops firing on each other on the streets of Suva was not a prospect that I for the matter thought desirable.”
France also decried the military’s power grab, warning the European Union was considering suspending its military assistance to Fiji, “Various measures are being discussed at the European and national levels including … in terms of military cooperation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said.
For its part, Japan called for a peaceful restoration of democracy in Fiji. In a statement in the run-up to the coup, Tokyo stressed a 400 million-dollar aid package to 12 islands, including Fiji, was linked to “good governance.”
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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