Communication from the Commission to the Council on the opening of consultations with the Republic of the Fiji Islands under Article 366(a) of the Lomé Convention
Date: 2000-07-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Fiji, Lomé Convention, cooperation policy, democracy, illegal restraint

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 24.07.2000
COM(2000) 460 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

on the opening of consultations with the Republic of the Fiji Islands under
Article 366 (a) of the Lomé Convention

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

on the opening of consultations with the Republic of the Fiji Islands under
Article 366 (a) of the Lomé Convention

Recent events

On 19 May 2000, seven armed and masked men under the leadership of George Speight
stormed Fiji’s Parliament at 10.00 am, taking hostage the Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudry,
and some 40 Members of Government and Parliament. Mr. Speight declared that he had acted
in the name and interests of all indigenous Fijians. He also claimed to have taken all executive
power, including the powers of the President, and to have revoked the amended Constitution,
passed by Parliament in 1997 and put into application in 1998.

Following this unlawful act,

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the President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, on 27 May, was obliged to remove the
democratically-elected Prime Minister and his Government, as they were no longer
considered to be in a position to perform the functions of their office. The President also
announced that the House of Representatives would be suspended for six months;

on 29 May, Armed Forces Chief Commodore Frank Bainiramara, with the consent of
Ratu Mara who stepped aside, assumed executive power and declared martial law;

on 30 May, the new Military Government issued a decree revoking the Constitution of
1998.

On 6 June, the Military presented an outline of a plan which is expected to restore civil order.
The plan foresees that three months after the resolution of the hostage crisis, power would be
handed over to a civil interim President, who would appoint a new interim Prime Minister and
Government. The main task of the interim Government would be to work out a new
constitution and call new elections. The hostage-takers should be granted amnesty, but by no
means become members in any civil interim Government.

Throughout the current hostage crisis, the security situation in Suva has remained relatively
stable, despite occasional arson attempts and looting activities by members of the Speight
group.

The armed insurrection of 19 May was condemned on the same day by a statement of the
Presidency of the EU; a second statement was issued on 29 May.

The International Community has unanimously condemned the attempt by the hostage-takers
to jeopardise the successful process of democratisation which has been taking place over the
past decade. While it is generally deemed too early to impose sanctions, various forms of
sanctions are being considered and prepared, should this attempt to overthrow democracy in
Fiji succeed, resulting in a racially-biased Constitution and Government.

In light of the above, and pursuant to Articles 5 and 366 (a) of the Lomé Convention, the
Commission proposes to the Council:

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to invite Fiji, as an ACP State, to hold consultations, with a view to assessing the situation
in detail and, if necessary, remedying it in accordance with the terms of the attached letter.
The aim of the consultations is to underline the importance attached by the European
Union to respecting the essential elements referred to in Article 5 of the Lomé Convention
and to ascertain Fiji’s intentions regarding compliance with these provisions.

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DRAFT

ANNEX

Brussels,

His Excellency Isikel Mataitoga
Ambassador of the Republic of the Fiji Islands
Mission of the Republic of the Fiji Islands
Av. de Cortenberg, 66
1000 Bruxelles

Sir,

In a statement of May 19th 2000, the Presidency of the European Union condemned the use of
armed force against a democratically elected Government, called for the immediate release of
hostages and for the prompt return to democratic procedures and government within the terms
of the Fijian Constitution. In a second statement of May 29th 2000, the European Union
expressed its deep concern about intentions to replace the democratically elected Government
by an interim administration and requested Fiji leaders to find a constitutionally acceptable
way out of the crisis. It finally was emphasised that a non-democratic solution would certainly
have implications for the EU’s continuing cooperation with Fiji.

On May 30th 2000, your Government
Amendment Act 1997.

issued a decree revoking the Fiji Constitution

Pursuant to Article 366 (a) of the Lomé Convention we have the honour to invite the Republic
of the Fiji Islands to enter into consultations with a view to assessing the situation in detail
and, if necessary, remedying it.

We suggest that these consultations take place on ……… in Brussels in the premises of the
Council of the European Union.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of our highest consideration.

For the Council

For the Commission

Copies:

Chairman of the Committee of ACP Ambassadors
Secretary General of the ACP Group of States

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