Fiji’s President Ratu Josefa Iloilo is awaiting a response from the secretary generals of the Commonwealth Secretariat and United Nations regarding a political forum.
Ratu Josefa wrote to the Commonwealth and the UN requesting their support in convening a forum, appointing a three-member panel for the mediation role and also to coordinate closely with the Pacific Forum Secretariat and the European Union regarding the proposed forum process.
The proposed National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF) forum is expected to be held as soon as possible within the next month or so backed by appropriate expertise and resources for key stakeholders within Fiji including all the political parties.
The forum is also expected to discuss the steps needed to reform Fiji’s electoral system to conform, inter alia, with the principles enunciated within the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Commonwealth and UN have been asked to view their participation in the forum as observers and also to obtain their financial and technical support for this initiative.
The interim government had advised the President that it was desirable for the proposed forum to be convened and facilitated in a multilateral framework with the interim government and all major political parties as participants and with input from NCBBF and also recognised electoral and constitutional reform experts.
“It is anticipated that before the proposed forum is convened, a joint COMSEC - UN Reconnaissance Mission, which may include Sir Paul Reeves, will visit Fiji as soon as possible within May 08. The purpose of this Mission will be to undertake preliminary consultations with all key stakeholders including, in particular the political parties, on issues such as the composition and chair of the proposed 3-member panel; identification of core external expertise and funding, including secretariat support; timetable; and other organisational arrangements,” the statement said.
“Consultations on these issues would take some little time to complete and would need to involve all intended parties to the forum. Once the arrangements are resolved, more detailed press releases would be issued.”
Further media query on this matter has been directed to the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Information.
Comment:
The IG has succeeded in doing one thing: putting the country into a political rut. But it's never to late to do the sensible thing. And, asking the C'wealth and UN to "bail" us out is clearly a good "exit strategy" - for the country.
