NZ travel bans likely to affect democracy roadmap

Press Releases
Jul 3, 2007, 14:23

NZ travel bans likely to affect democracy roadmap

The latest extended application of travel bans announced as part of sanctions by New Zealand are likely to affect Fiji’s return to parliamentary democracy.

Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, the Prime Minister said that those bans are ‘hypocrisy of the highest order’ on part of New Zealand.

“How can they claim to remain focused on encouraging a rapid return to constitutional government in Fiji when they are ‘hell bent’ on punishing credible people who are coming forward to help bring about necessary changes to move us forward?

“If New Zealand’s aim is to hurt Fiji and crumble our institutions of State, then obviously it will affect our capability to return the country to parliamentary democracy expeditiously, which the international community is demanding. Even the Independent Technical Assessment Team commissioned by Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting had noted that those travel bans are affecting our ability to fill certain positions in various institutions.

“The lone application which was received for the advertised position of Supervisor of Elections is a further testimony to how counterproductive these travels bans are to our efforts to rebuild Fiji’s capacity to return the country to democracy and normalcy.”

Commodore Bainimarama said that New Zealand is not only insensitive and hurtful to the people of Fiji, but other Pacific Island Countries as well who are members of the Pacific Islands Forum. The Interim Government is firmly committed to fulfilling the commitments it has made to its bilateral partners, the Pacific Islands Forum and the international community in terms of return of Fiji to parliamentary democracy, upholding the 1997 Constitution, the cessation of human rights abuses and addressing allegations of abuse. The progress we have made in all these areas is covered comprehensively in the Report of the Pacific Islands Forum/Fiji Joint Working Group on the Fiji situation, which will soon be finalized for submission to the Eminent Persons Group.

In terms of demonstrable progress achieved in returning Fiji to Parliamentary Democracy, Commodore Bainimarama said that New Zealand and other countries putting unnecessary pressure on Fiji should recognize the following milestones the Interim Government has accomplished so far;

- uplifting of Military Checkpoints;

- return of RFMF personnel to the barracks

- uplifting of Public Emergency Regulations

- release of initial funds to Census Office for conduct of National Census

- appointment of the Electoral Commission;

- advertisement for the post of Supervisor of Elections;

- full engagement in the Forum/Fiji Joint Working Group on the Fiji Situation; and,

- acceptance in principle of the Report of the Independent Assessment Team and March 2009 timeline for elections.

“It is already evident from the above that the Interim Government is very much on ‘track’ in terms of honoring its commitments. We need New Zealand and the international community’s understanding, cooperation and assistance to be able to continue making progress,” he said.

ENDS

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