Marlborough House, London, 6 June 2000

CONCLUDING STATEMENT 

1.         The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) met at Marlborough House, London, on 6 June 2000 to consider the situation in the Fiji Islands and in Solomon Islands. The meeting was chaired by the Hon Gen M Merafhe, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana and was attended by the Hon Alexander Downer, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, the Hon Tan Sri Dato' Musa bin Hitam, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to CMAG, the Hon Sule Lamido, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the Hon John Battle, MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Barbados and Canada were represented by their High Commissioners to the United Kingdom.

Fiji Islands

2.         CMAG unanimously condemned the use of armed force against Fiji's democratically elected Prime Minister and his government by a group of extremists and expressed concern over the subsequent imposition of martial law in Fiji Islands and the abrogation of the Fiji Constitution Amendment Act (1997) which constituted serious violations of the Commonwealth's fundamental principles, as enshrined in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration. The Group decided that according to the steps set out in the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme on the Harare Declaration, Fiji should forthwith be suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth, pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country ^[1].

3.         CMAG called for Commonwealth principles of good governance, democracy and the rule of law to be upheld in Fiji, and a timetable to be set for the restoration of constitutional rule and democratic government.  

4.         The Group also called for the immediate, unconditional release of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, other government Ministers and all others who are being held hostage in Suva, and urged Commodore Frank Bainimarama to secure and uphold their safety and well-being.  

5.         CMAG decided to despatch immediately a mission to Fiji Islands to press for a clear timetable for the restoration of democracy. The CMAG mission would be led by the Group's Chairman, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana, and would include the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia and the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to CMAG. The Group invited the Foreign Minister of New Zealand to join their mission. 

6.         The Group also agreed that it would review the situation in Fiji Islands at its meeting in New York in September 2000. 

Solomon Islands 

7.         The Ministers expressed their deep concern over the action by militant groups and elements of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) against the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu in Solomon Islands. The Group called for the immediate return to constitutional government and the rule of law. CMAG urged the militant Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) to withdraw its forces from Honiara, to remove all constraints on the Prime Minister and Governor-General and to surrender all arms to the RSIPF. The Group urged all parties and in particular the MEF and the Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) to reaffirm and renew their commitment to the Commonwealth-brokered peace process in Solomon Islands.   

8.         The Group also emphasised that the replacement of the democratically elected government by unconstitutional means would invoke the provisions of the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme leading to the suspension of the Solomon Islands from the councils of the Commonwealth. 

9.         CMAG decided that its mission to the Fiji Islands should also visit Solomon Islands to meet with government and other leaders, to convey Commonwealth concerns and offer such Commonwealth assistance as might contribute to the restoration and strengthening of democratic institutions and processes. 

[1] The implications of such suspension would be:   the exclusion of representatives of the military regime or nominees thereof, from participation at all inter-governmental Commonwealth meetings and in other inter-governmental Commonwealth activities including CHOGM;  the suspension of the provision of any new Commonwealth technical assistance to Fiji Islands requested by the military government or its representatives. Technical assistance aimed at the restoration of civilian democratic rule, however, would be exempted from this suspension; and no contact between the Secretariat and the military regime or its representatives unless by instruction of the Secretary-General.