Ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has written to the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon claiming that Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama will misinform the General Assembly on Fiji's current situation when he addresses the world leaders in New York tomorrow.
In his letter to the UN General Assembly, Qarase stated he has cautioned the UN on Commodore Bainimarama's addresses and has also highlighted issues on the removal of the elected government on December 5th, 2006, and the reign of the military dictatorship.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Qarase said he hopes that his concerns will be discussed by the delegates in the UN General Assembly.
Qarase in his letter to the General Assembly highlighted that the People’s Charter project is very divisive and has attracted extensive opposition from the major political parties, important religious groups, unions, NGOs and ordinary citizens.
He added that civil servants and members of the security forces are travelling throughout the country in an attempt to secure support for the Charter through the signing of the approval forms.
He further tells the UN that the process with its lack of privacy and all its potential for manipulation is a mockery of democracy, and it will not succeed.
Qarase also revealed that SDL this week filed legal action against the interim government asking the high court to declare the formation of the NCBBF and its work on the Charter, as beyond the powers of the interim regime and that they are unlawful.
Meanwhile, Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and his delegation were accorded a traditional welcome ceremony as they arrived in New York earlier today for the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.
Commodore Bainimarama will address the General Assembly on the Fiji situation and the way forward tomorrow and prior to that he will have a number of bilateral meetings with key multilateral agencies and Fiji's economic and trading partners.
Commodore Bainimarama said he is looking forward to engaging with the international community both in the context of his address to the General Assembly as well as through the bilateral meetings.
He said this is a wonderful opportunity and he will accordingly make best use of it for the people of Fiji as we move towards building a better Fiji and more prosperous country.
The Interim PM and his delegation return next Tuesday.
