Tuesday, 09 March 2010

• EU opens consultation with Fiji under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement

  
  
  It is indeed a very very sad day for Fijians.
  
  We had advised you last year that Frank Bainimarama's advisors have been playing games with our people and the International Community and so the last straw and perhaps the breaking point has finally come to pass.
  
  Let me make this very clear to you all, just as we had advised that Frank Bainimarama's going to the Hague was practically impossible due to that forums bias against Africans, the result of this EU consultative process will be very very disappointing for us all and although I hate to be the bearer of bad news for our fight toward the immediate restoration of our fundamental rights, it is something that must be done so that we can prepare for the inevitable.
  
  This is one of those features of International Law and in this instance the Cotonou Agreement and in particular Article 96.
  

  It is 2010, another exciting year of further smokes and mirrors on our roadmap to nowhere, so don't get too excited with your submissions until you read to the end.

  What ?   : European Commission Consultation with Fiji Government

  How ?    : Article 96(2)a and Annexe VII of Cotonou Agreement

  Why ?    : Military government of Fiji's failure to fulfil its obligation to :
  

  • respect human rights [Amnesty Reports]
    

  • restore democracy [Promises and Lies]

  • comply with the rule of law [Qarase Judgment FJCA 2009 etc]

  Where ?  : EU Building Brussels.

  When ?   : Between 30 to 120 days from date of Invite.

  Initiator  : The European Commission.

  Invitee     : The Military Government of Fiji.

  Regional Participants :
  

  • The Commonwealth Secretariat.

  • The Pacific Islands Forum.

  • The Melanesian Spearhead Group

  National Participants : Fiji Island Civil Society Groups

  Participants Excluded : Political Parties, GCC, Trade Unions etc (not technically required)

  Projected Outcome     :
  

  A concluding statement by the EC for further consultation (ie another 30 to 120 days) pursuant to the same Article 96(2)a to discuss the Roadmap that will specify :

  1. the agreement by all parties to the stages of transition

  2. the establishment of a National Council of Transition based on consensus, with the powers and authority of a constituent assembly

  3. updating of the legal framework (Constitution and Electoral laws) including voter registration and establishment of electoral register.

  4. organization of free and transparent general and presidential elections

  5. the timetable for each of the items in the roadmap

  AND THE EC will have a monitoring team and will fund this roadmap 100%.

  AND like they always say when you request a dedication on Radio, “not forgetting” another useless statement to this effect :

  “ Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and urgent attention to the freedom and safety of persons, freedom of expression and the non-use of torture and other inhuman or degrading acts, will be regarded as an essential element of the transition. ”

  What these dick-heads always forget to say is what happens if a rouge state does not comply? Sweet @#*% ALL.

  The above ladies and gentleman will in the EC's opinion be an “urgent” and “peaceful” return to democracy within the existing legal order, that is elections in 2014, without our 1997 Constitution.

  
  God Bless Fiji.
  
  Artwork courtesy of Fiji Silenced via Discombobulated Bubu
  

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