Interim Govt committed to elections

The Interim government is committed to holding democratic elections in March 2009 in line with the commitments Fiji has given to the international community, the EU and the Pacific Islands Forum.

However Interim Foreign Minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau told the Forum Foreign Ministers in Auckland today that their goal can only be reached with constructive dialogue and engagement from all interested parties in Fiji, the international community, bilateral and multi-lateral development partners and the Forum.

Ratu Epeli then gave an update on what the interim government has achieved so far. These include the completion of the national census last year, the appointment of the members of the Electoral Commission, appointment of a Deputy Supervisor of Elections and adequate number of staff at the elections office, appointment of the Boundaries Commission, allocation of funds in the 2008 budget for preparatory work on the 2009 elections.

Ratu Epeli says they are in the final stages of appointing the new Supervisor of Elections. However due to the travel sanctions they were forced to go abroad for the national appointment. He says this was a thoroughly demeaning and colonial foray especially when Fiji has well qualified people to take up the post.

He also gave a report on the progress on the work on the People's Charter process and Ratu Epeli stressed that the process will not undermine current commitments to holding elections in 2009.


In the earlier News:

Ensure that Fiji goes to the polls in March next year.

The Pacific Forum Foreign Ministers have reinforced the importance of Fiji's interim government honoring the undertakings made to Forum Leaders that elections would be held in the first quarter of 2009.

The meeting which has just ended in Auckland has concluded that the next election should be held in accordance with Fiji's constitution and that the outcome of the election would be accepted by the interim government and the military.

The Forum ministers also expressed concern about the slow progress toward elections to date and encouraged the interim administration to intensify its efforts to achieve the election milestones endorsed by the meeting.

However the Foreign Ministers noted advice received from Fiji that a detailed timetable for election preparations would be considered by the interim cabinet in the second week of April and provided to Forum members upon the interim cabinet's approval. The Pacific Foreign Ministers emphasized the importance of such a timetable faithfully reflecting the commitments made by Fiji.

It has also been revealed after the meeting in Auckland that the Pacific ministers have welcomed advice from Fiji that the appointment of the Supervisor of Elections would be finalized by the end of this week and looked forward to such an announcement.

The Forum Ministers also expressed their concern in the meeting today about human rights abuses, threats to media freedom and judicial independence, and similar actions that were inconsistent with the creation of an environment in which free and fair elections could be held and Fiji's longer term issues resolved.

They confirmed their support for efforts to encourage a genuinely independent and inclusive political dialogue to complement progress towards the March 2009 election, and welcomed the work of the Commonwealth to this end.

The Forum Ministers also acknowledged that an overall resolution of issues in Fiji would be a long term exercise, and that resolution processes should be independent and inclusive. They affirmed that elections constituted a crucial prerequisite to creating the conditions in which this longer term resolution could be promoted.

A Forum Ministerial Contact Group will also be formed to further monitor the progress of Fiji's preparations for the election
and return to democracy, and report to the next Forum Leaders meeting. The Contact Group will consist of the Foreign Affairs Ministers from Australia, NZ, PNG, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.