The verdict has come from the Royal Commonwealth Society, whose director Dr. Danny Sriskandarajah believes the 53-member body has “dropped the ball on Fiji.”
He told Radio Australia that bodies such as the Commonwealth can best represent smaller island states and also involve themselves more in trying to deal with Fiji’s government.
“The voices of the smaller island nations are drowned in the United Nations and the Commonwealth becomes a perfect ground to be on par with nations like Australia and Britain where the smaller island nations can have their voices heard,” Sriskandarajah said.
“I think the Commonwealth has dropped the ball on Fiji. Firstly they can go ahead and suspend Fiji in September and then there will be people saying too little and too little. What some countries do not realize is that the Commonwealth works behind the scene to help bring about positive changes.”
Sriskandarajah added that dialogue needs to be maintained.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group decided in December 2008 to review their stand on Fiji in 2009 and rallied support behind the Pacific Islands Forum’s decision to suspend Fiji.
The CMAG will meet again in September to make a final decision.
Suspension will mean Fiji will not be able to attend any of the Commonwealth meetings although technical assistance will continue.
