Commonwealth adopts 'soft line' on Fiji

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, MARCH 22. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which met in London on March 19 and 20, took a ``soft line'' on Fiji in the hope that the fresh elections announced for August would lead the country back to constitutional rule.

New Zealand wanted the Commonwealth to send a message about the ``doubtful constitutionality'' of the current caretaker Government, but that hasn't happened.

``The Group (CMAG) welcomed Fiji's Court of Appeal ruling of March 1, which upheld the Fiji High Court decision of November 15, 2000 declaring the 1997 Constitution as the supreme law. It also welcomed the acceptance by all sections of Fiji's society, in particular the President, the previous interim Government and the Great Council of Chiefs, of the verdict of the Court of Appeal.

``Ministers took note that a new interim government has taken office in Suva and expressed satisfaction that the caretaker administration would work toward holding free and fair elections under the 1997 constitution, as advised by the interim Prime Minister to restore democracy and the rule of law in Fiji,'' an official statement from the CMAG said.

While Fiji will remain suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth, the Group ``decided to closely monitor the situation'' and hoped that Fiji would return to the Commonwealth as a full member by the time the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held in October.

The Commonwealth line appears to be a recognition of the ground realities in Fiji - especially the view that the bottomline - respect for the 1997 Constitution has been promised.

However, the Commonwealth would be aware that there are no guarantees that the Fijian authorities would respect the mandate. That bridge can only be crossed when Fiji goes to the polls once again.

New Zealand has made clear its unhappiness with the way Fijian authorities have acted. In a letter to the Commonwealth Secretariat, the country's Foreign Minister, Mr. Phil Goff, was quoted as saying, ``suspension of sanctions will need to await clear evidence of early elections and an unequivocal commitment by the caretaker government to a democratic outcome at the ballot box''.

``The most constitutional approach would have been the reconvening of Parliament and letting it decide who should govern until elections are held,'' Mr. Goff stated.

India, too, while expressing concern about the re- appointment of Mr. Laisenia Qarase as interim Prime Minister and that Parliament was not convened, has welcomed the decision of the Fijian President, Mr. Josefa Iloilo, to hold fresh elections.

New Delhi wanted the international community to impress upon Fijian authorities to adhere to the constitution, not only in letter but in spirit also.

It is evident that there are differences of approach when it comes to the situation in Fiji. However, many moderates believe that the promise of fresh elections under the 1997 Constitution is a better prospect than continuance of an illegal regime.

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