CCF calls for dialogue as poll chief named

October 01, 2009 08:10:46 AM

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Fiji’s Citizens Constitutional Forum (CCF) has urged the government to confirm it readiness to resume a national dialogue process, one day after an Elections Supervisor was named to prepare for elections in 2014.

CCF chief executive officer Reverend Akuila Yabaki issued the call echoing comments made by Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, following a meeting between him and Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama in New York last week.

“CCF urges the government to commence a nation wide dialogue process earlier rather than later,” Yabaki said.

Political power needed to be guided by parliamentary democracy, he said.

Sharma had reiterated that the Commonwealth was willing to remain engaged with Fiji in support of any good faith efforts towards the restoration of democracy, including the facilitation of a credible political dialogue process.

Yabaki said the CCF was hopeful that once underway, such a process would examine the communal race-based voting system in Fiji, and discuss the possible abolishment of race-based policies and electoral campaigns.

His comments follow the appointment of former deputy Supervisor of Elections Soro Toutou as acting Supervisor of Elections this week.

“Mr Toutou brings with him the requisite management skills. His appointment shows an on-going commitment by government to have an efficient, transparent and well-managed Elections Office to ensure that the conduct of the general elections shall be managed professionally,” said Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Sayed-Khaiyum said preparatory work undertaken by the Elections Office included the registration of all eligible voters in a transparent manner, the institutional strengthening of the Elections Office and the addressing of the anomalies highlighted in the European Union Election Observer Mission Fiji 2006 Final Report.

“The credibility of the election process is paramount. We cannot have the doubts, laxities and anomalies that were associated with the 2001 and 2006 elections,” he said.

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