The Citizen's Constitutional Forum is disappointed that Fiji will not be participating in the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.
CCF Chief Executive Rev Akuila Yabaki said this could have an impact on the proposed President's political forum due to be held next month.
“CCF is disappointed that Fiji will not be participating in the Pacific islands Forum in Niue because this may have a negative impact on the proposed Presidents political forum due to be held next month. Political forum will play a very important role in Fiji’s return to democracy and parliamentary election. Disappointing that the diplomatic relations between Fiji and NZ have not improved to a channel level of corporation. CCF had encouraged Fiji to attend the Forum leaders meeting in Niue as the progress of Fiji’s return to democracy and assistance from the region would have been discussed there”.
The National Federation Party said it is a typical decision of the Interim Government to not to participate in the Pacific Island Leaders Forum in Niue from this Wednesday.
General Secretary Pramod Rae said the interim regime does not realise what it is missing by not going to the Forum.
“As I have said, typical knee jerk reaction that the regime has towards its critics. When you undertake certain activities, there are consequences and the restrictions placed on the members of the regime are consequences of the actions that they took. So they must learn to operate within those constraints. It is most unfortunate that they will not go to Niue. They will have lost a golden opportunity to engage in further dialogue and to be able to listen to good advice from our Pacific Island neighbours. We would ask him to reconsider the fact that they are not able to participate in some bilateral discussions elsewhere off the island of Niue, that is quite irrelevant. The main forum is the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum.”
Director for ECREA, Chantelle Khan said it is not surprising the stand New Zealand is taking against Fiji and what we really need to ask is whether the other members of the Pacific Island Forum were bullied by New Zealand.
“Throughout the entire political situation, this is what they have been doing to stand against Fiji but this is of making it quite impossible for Fiji to participate in any of the talks and it’s not very conducive to try and help us move forward and that’s perhaps what the strategy is”.
Meanwhile, Fiji Labour Party Spokesperson Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi said the Party will make an official statement on the matter later.
Backlash on Decision to Withdraw From Forum
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