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Forum Working Group Concerned By Progress To Elections

Thursday: April 24, 2008

(Pacific Islands Forum)

The Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji Joint Working Group on the Situation in Fiji has expressed its disappointment that a “detailed timetable for election preparations which Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers had been advised would be considered by Cabinet in the second week of April had still not been finalized.”

The Working Group met in Suva today. It noted that the appointee for the Supervisor of Elections position had withdrawn. It urged the Constitutional Offices Commission to make a new appointment as soon as possible to assist the Elections Office to proceed with its preparations for elections by March 2009.

The Working Group noted the recommendation by the Electoral Commission to the National Council for Building a Better Fiji that the current electoral system needed to be changed before the March 2009 Election. The Working Group recalled the commitment made to Leaders by the interim Prime Minister that the 2009 election would be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Fiji.

The Working Group received a briefing on the 10 April meeting of the Elections Donor Coordination Committee and welcomed agreement to move forward on the recommendations of the gap analysis mission. The Working Group acknowledged the readiness of the EDCC membership to provide assistance for example, in Information Technology and training for the staff at the Elections Office, for the electoral process in Fiji as requested.

The Working Group discussed the standing issues (the restoration of civilian rule, upholding the 1997 Constitution, the cessation of human rights abuses and addressing allegations of abuse, and support for a credible and independent anti-corruption commission).

Senior officials from Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Tuvalu attended today’s meeting. They will reconvene on May 9.