UN Security Council criticises Fiji's scrapping of constitution
Updated
The United Nations Security Council is joining the condemnation of recent events in Fiji, releasing a strongly worded criticism of the military backed regime after being briefed on the situation since the constitution was scrapped on Good Friday. It's re-considering its involvement in the country's political dialogue after the exclusion of the country's four biggest parties from the last meeting, but is showing no signs of ending its use of Fijian soldiers in peacekeeping activities, as suggested by some groups calling for tougher measures.
Presenter Campbell Cooney
Speakers: Mexico's UN Ambassador Claude Heller
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CAMPBELL CLOONEY: When he spoke to the media after the meeting of the United Nations Security Council, current Chairman, Mexico's UN Ambassador Claude Heller made it clear the situation in Fiji was high on the meeting's agenda.
CLAUDE HELLER: Members of the Security Council today were briefed by Mr Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, on the current situation in Fiji.
CAMPBELL COONEY: And the notes that were made public about the briefing from UN's Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, indicate he was barely diplomatic in what he had to say. Mr Pascoe told the council what's happened in Fiji since Good Friday, the constitution scrapped, the dismissal of the judiciary, emergency law, the imposition of strict censorship, and the detention of members of the media and judiciary, amount to:
"Brazen actions that will further polarise Fijian society and increase the potential for instability and violence. Perpetuating illegitimate military rule in Fiji has only added to the country's woes and exacerbated tensions and divisions."
CAMPBELL COONEY: After the briefing and the discussions that followed, this was the official statement the Security Council made public, as presented by Ambassador Heller.
CLAUDE HELLER: The members of the Security Council are deeply concerned about the situation in Fiji where undemocratic decisions were made, including the abrogation of the constitution. The members of the Security Council express hopes that Fiji will make a steadfast advancement towards democracy and that fair elections will be held at the soonest possible time. The members of the Security Council also support the efforts deployed by the Secretary-General on this matter. Finally, the members of the Security Council continue to follow the situation in Fiji.
CAMPBELL COONEY: And while it is strongly worded, the statement's probably has not gone far enough for some critics of Fiji's interim regime. Fiji's former Land Forces Commander Jone Baledrokadroka told a rally of concerned expatriates there is one course of action which would make coup leader and interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama take notice.
JONE BALEDROKADROKA: Halting Fijian soldiers going to Iraq on UN missions would encourage rank and file dissent.
CAMPBELL COONEY: In the days before the 2006 coup, then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan threatened to exclude Fiji from its activities if the coup went ahead. It did, and the UN's threat wasn't backed with any action. But the UN has given a very clear indication it's moving away from its commitment to be part of a political dialogue in Fiji. In March it and the Commonwealth agreed to jointly facilitate a Presidents' Political Dialogue Forum, with the purpose of involving all Fiji's political players in setting a path back to democratic rule. Just prior to the Good Friday scrapping of the constitution, both groups said they would be reconsidering that involvement, as four of Fiji's biggest political groups had been barred from taking part in preparatory meetings by Commodore Bainimarama. After Good Friday, and with elections unlikely for five years, both the Commodore and President Ratu Josefa Iloilo have said publicly they still want the dialogue to go ahead and want the UN and Commonwealth involved. In his briefing, Under-Secretary General Pascoe told the Security Council preparations for that dialogue face suspension.
GENERAL PASCOE: Our attempt to encourage an inclusive dialogue between all parties as a means of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis unfortunately cannot continue at this time unless there is a change in the current state of affairs.
CAMPBELL COONEY: The Commonwealth's yet to comment.
