-
Frank Bainimarama - Source: ONE News -
Related
Former New Zealand governor general Sir Paul Reeves will be visiting Fiji as a representative of the Commonwealth in the run-up to the rebel state's suspension from that body.
Fiji faces expulsion from the Commonwealth if the military regime does not announce by Wednesday that democratic elections are to take place by October next year.
A leading academic expert on Fiji said that the interim regime is unlikely to have done enough to prevent its suspension from the Commonwealth.
Jonathan Fraenkel, an academic based at the Australian National University, told Radio New Zealand International while the regime has appeared nonchalant about ultimatums from international bodies in the past, it had made some conciliatory gestures recently.
But that was unlikely to be enough for the Commonwealth.
"On several occasions the regime has seemed to take some steps to try and end its isolation, and said it is open to negotiation but there haven't been any major concessions," he said.
A spokesman for the Commonwealth Secretary, Eduardo del Buey, said Fiji must meet the deadline in spite of having invited Sir Paul, the Commonwealth's Special Representative.
Sir Paul received an invitation from the leader of the military coup, Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, and Mr del Buey said the New Zealander will visit in about 10 days time.
The Commonwealth ministerial action group (CMAG) gave Fiji's military rulers until September 1 to commit to holding elections by October next year or face full suspension.
But the interim government has said nothing will sway it from its roadmap toward holding elections in 2014.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
