The Commonwealth is set to expel Fiji, in line with the group’s opposition to non-democratic regimes that remain in power for more than two years.
New Zealand defence and trade minister Phil Goff issued the warning to ISLANDS BUSINESS ahead of a meeting with the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in the United States.
The eight member CMAG, which also includes Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister Sam Abal, advises the secretariat.
The secretariat then acts against member countries that have breached the founding principles of the Harare Declaration, such as personal liberty and rule of law.
“Under the Harare Declaration and the Milbrook plan of action, which is under consideration with regards to Fiji, after two years of a non-democratic government, a country must be suspended from the Commonwealth,” Goff said.
“They’ve applied that to Nigeria, they’ve applied that to Pakistan, so they have no choice but to apply that also to Fiji.”
Goff said both he and Abal would push for the Commonwealth’s endorsement of elections in Fiji.
“That is, seeking a reiteration by the Commonwealth of its earlier decision this year to get behind the unanimous decision taken at Niue by the Forum Islands leaders.
“Essentially we’re looking for the Fijian Government to move quickly to restore democratic governance by holding an election, and the original agreement with Frank Bainimarama was that elections should be held next year in March,” Goff said.
Goff also said that New Zealand stood ready to support Fiji on other issues.
“We recognise that an election by itself doesn’t solve Fiji’s problem, but they need to have an inclusive dialogue between the communities in Fiji as to how they can improve relationships between the different ethnic communities, in a way that would prevent yet another coup somewhere down the track.
“But our point quite firmly is that you can’t rewrite a constitution unless you have a mandate to do so, and a government that seizes power by the barrel of a gun doesn’t have a mandate to conclude constitutional negotiations, that’s why the elections must occur. But we’re happy to work to enable consensus to be built on a way forward,” Goff said.