UN, Pacific Islands Forum welcomes move to end state of emergency in Fiji
This may be the green light for more Fiji UN Troops to Iraq as US Troops pulled out late last year. No other Country except Fiji is prepared to help in, as Iraq ponders on to rebuild a Nation of numerous Oil and Gas wealth, yet to be extracted.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the announcement by Fiji that it will lift the state of emergency imposed in 2009, calling it a “positive step” towards restoring constitutional order in the South Pacific archipelago.
Fijian authorities indicated that the public emergency regulation would be lifted by the coming weekend, according to media reports earlier this week.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban welcomed the step and stressed “that it is essential that Fiji’s authorities and all Fijian stakeholders engage in a constructive process of dialogue towards an inclusive election at the earliest.”
Fiji’s Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama took power in a coup d’état in 2006. Last year, during an address to the General Assembly’s annual General Debate, he outlined details of a political road map – which includes the drafting of a new constitution – leading to national elections by September 2014.
Meanwhile, the Forum Secretary-General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, has welcomed the announcement by Commodore Bainimarama that the Public Emergency Regulation (PER) will be lifted on 7 January 2012.
He said this is an important development and a step in the right direction, noting also the announced proposal for nationwide consultations on a new constitution for Fiji.
Secretary General Slade expressed hope for the earliest restoration of normality and legitimacy as a result of the lifting of the PER; and also for the broadest measure of inclusive national consultations as vital ingredients for free and fair elections.
He said that as Forum Leaders had done in their September 2011 meeting Communiqué, Leaders had consistently called for the “commencement of genuine, inclusive political dialogue in Fiji between parties without preconditions or predetermined outcomes”. In doing so, Forum Leaders also “reaffirmed the underlying values of the Forum, namely respect for democracy, good governance and the rule of law”.
The Secretary General also recalled the clear commitment “of all Forum members to encourage and support Fiji’s early return to parliamentary democracy, including their standing offer of practical assistance in addressing the challenges faced by Fiji”.
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