HONIARA (Pacnews) — Pacific island nations of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have declared their support for the interim government of their coup-prone neighbor Fiji.
A high level delegation from the Melanesian Spearhead Group, met in the Solomon Islands’ capital Honiara at the weekend to discuss the military overthrow of Fiji’s democratically elected government.
The group, made up of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji is chaired by Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Paul Tiensten.
He said initial concerns over Fiji’s fourth coup in 20 years were eased by the acceptance of the new interim government by major institutions in Fiji.
Tiensten said the MSG was there to support Fiji and not issue sanctions like some other countries. “One of our members has a problem — we are here to assist.”
The coup, he said, was an internal matter and the MSG would not interfere in domestic politics. “We want to help Fiji out of this.”
On Dec. 5, Fiji’s military, led by military commander Frank Bainimarama, overthrew the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in a bloodless coup following months of brinkmanship.
Commodore Bainimarama has since carried out a cleanup campaign ousting remnants of the Qarase government which he accused of corruption.
Tiensten said the support for the interim government by Fiji churches, the country’s traditional leaders and the Fiji Law Society showed the acceptance of the new government regime.
Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister Sato Kilman said the MSG has agreed to give the new government time to begin preparations for elections.
He said the MSG has accepted the interim government’s plans to hold a national census and examine the country’s electoral boundaries before national elections could take place.
The three countries reinforced their support for Fiji saying the group would fight any move to have Fiji suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum, a political and economic union of Pacific Island countries.
Tiensten said any moves to suspend Fiji will not be in line with the founding principles of the Forum alliance.