By Prensa Latina
Wellington : The government of Fiji committed itself at a meeting of foreign ministers of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Auckland, New Zealand, to holding democratic elections in March 2009.
Sixteen foreign ministers from the regional forum are attending the Auckland meeting to discuss the situation in the Fiji archipelago, which has been run by military forces over the past two years, according to New Zealand Radio.
On December 5, 2006, Fiji’s army staged the fourth coup d’etat since 1987.
During the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Tonga in October 2007, the leader of Fiji’s interim government, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, committed himself to holding general elections by late March 2009.
The special envoy of the Commomwealth Secretariat, Paul Reeves, told local radio that Fiji’s interim foreign minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, had assured his government’s commitment to holding elections next year.
However, Reeves added that Nailatikau had not elaborated on the date and other information about the elections.
Participants in the meeting issued a communiqué expressing concern about human rights violations in Fiji, as well as about the government’s threats against freedom of information and judicial independence.