Australia on Tuesday said Fiji's announcement that it would lift emergency laws was a “first step” but urged the Pacific state to restore democracy as soon as possible.
Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama said Monday that the regulations, including tight censorship of the news media and a ban on public meetings, would be removed and talks begin on a new constitution.
“What we are seeing from Commodore Bainimarama is the announcement of a first step,” Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said.
“But from the point of view of the Australian government all steps need to be taken to restore democracy to Fiji.”
“That has been our consistent call.”
In his New Year message, Bainimarama said the emergency laws -- which were imposed in 2009 after a Fiji court ruled his 2006 coup was illegal -- would be lifted on Saturday to pave the way for consultation on a new constitution.
“I will, over the next few weeks, announce the nationwide consultation process which will commence in February 2012,” Bainimarama said.
Australia and New Zealand have called stridently for a return to democracy in the nation, a significant economic and travel hub in the South Pacific, and Gillard warned that Bainimarama had failed in the past to deliver on pledges.
Initial promises for an early return to democracy failed to result in elections, leaving Fiji facing sanctions from many countries and suspension from the Commonwealth. Bainimarama has promised elections in 2014.
“Getting rid of these emergency regulations is a first step, having a consultation period is a first step too. But these steps need to be followed up by further action,” Gillard told reporters in Sydney.
“As soon as possible democracy should be restored in Fiji.”
Meanwhile, the announcement that the emergency regulations will be lifted on January 7 has been welcomed by New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully who says the Government has been calling for the lifting of the Public Emergency Regulations as an important step towards the holding of free and fair elections.
“We'll have to wait and see if the Commodore can be taken at his word but it's a step in the right direction,” says McCully, adding that he also welcomes the announcement that public consultations will commence on a new constitution in February.
While a range of steps will be required before free and fair elections can be held, these are important moves in the right direction, he said.
“The international community will want to see these changes improve the lives and freedoms of ordinary Fijians."
The latest developments in Suva were also welcomed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, which said the announcements would clear the way for free and fair elections.
“The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, called this a positive step, which was long overdue,” a secretariat spokesperson said Monday.
Sharma hoped that the consultations on a new constitution would be fully inclusive, “clearing the way for credible elections and the return of a democratically elected government without further delay”, the statement added.
Bainimarama said that even though the emergency regulations were being lifted, “public order, protecting the vulnerable and safeguarding the economy will always be paramount”.
He said that the new constitution must establish a democratic, elected government.
No comments:
Post a Comment