Advocacy within the Commonwealth

Fifteenth Meeting ofThe Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
On The Harare Declaration (CMAG), Marlborough House
19 - 20 March 2001

Concluding statement

1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) held its fifteenth meeting at Marlborough House, London, on 19-20 March 2001. This was the Group's third regular meeting since the Durban Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) of November 1999. The meeting was chaired by the Hon Lt. General Mompati Merafhe, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana and was attended by the Hon Alexander Downer MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, the Hon Abdus Samad Azad, MP, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon Billie Miller, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados (Vice-Chairperson), the Hon John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, 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 Rt. Hon Robin Cook, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom.

2. The Group reviewed developments relating to the countries within its remit - Fiji Islands, The Gambia, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Solomon Islands, and reached the following conclusions:

Fiji Islands

3. CMAG reviewed developments in Fiji Islands since its last meeting in New York on 15 September 2000. The Group received a report from the Commonwealth Secretary-General on the activities of his Special Envoy to Fiji, the Hon Justice Pius Langa, Deputy President of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, who visited Fiji in December 2000, January 2001 and March 2001.

4. The Group welcomed Fiji's Court of Appeal ruling of 1 March, which upheld the Fiji High Court decision of 15 November 2000 declaring the 1997 Constitution as the supreme law of the country. The Group also welcomed the acceptance by all sections of Fiji's society, in particular the President, the previous interim government and the Great Council of Chiefs, of the verdict of the Court of Appeal. Ministers took note that a new Interim Government has taken office in Suva and expressed satisfaction that this Caretaker Administration will work toward holding free and fair elections, under the 1997 Constitution from 27 August to 7 September 2001, as advised by the interim Prime Minister, in order to restore democracy and the rule of law in Fiji.

5. CMAG expressed support for the work of the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Justice Pius Langa, and agreed that the Special Envoy should continue his efforts to promote national unity and the restoration of democracy in Fiji. Ministers asked the Secretary-General to provide such technical assistance to Fiji for the restoration of democracy as may be appropriate.

6. The Group concluded that in accordance with the Millbrook Action programme Fiji should remain suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy. The Group decided to closely monitor the situation in that country and expressed the hope that by the time CHOGM is held in October 2001, Fiji will have a democratically elected government and can return to the Commonwealth as a full member.

The Gambia

7. CMAG received a Report from the Mission it sent to The Gambia in November 2000 undertaken by the Hon Tan Sri Dato' Musa bin Hitam, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to CMAG and the Hon Sule Lamido, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. It also heard a report by the Commonwealth Secretary-General on his recent meetings with President Jammeh, Ministers, the Chief Justice, Members of Parliament and other leading officials in Banjul. The Group noted the firm commitment made by President Jammeh to both the CMAG Mission and to the Commonwealth Secretary-General to repeal the Schedule to Decree 89, which proscribed the activities of certain political parties and individuals. Ministers reiterated the Commonwealth's continued concern over the process of democratisation in The Gambia and urged the Government of The Gambia to take urgent steps for the repeal of the Schedule to Decree 89, well before the forthcoming Parliamentary and Presidential elections.

8. The Group requested the Secretary-General to remain engaged with the Government of The Gambia and provide appropriate assistance to widen the process of democratisation in that country. It decided that The Gambia should remain on CMAG agenda, subject to the repeal of the Schedule to Decree No 89, and the creation of an environment in which all political parties and individuals can freely take part in the political process.

Pakistan

9. CMAG reviewed developments in Pakistan since its last meeting. It received a report from the Secretary-General on the first round of local government elections in Pakistan held on 31 December 2000, and heard presentations from the following Pakistan political parties and civil society organisations: the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Muttaheda Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), and from the Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation, the Aga Khan Development Network, Amnesty International, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Human Rights Watch. The Group also took into account communications it had received from the Government of Pakistan.

10. CMAG noted also the criticism of the accountability process initiated by the regime which appeared to have been applied selectively against certain parties and individuals while exempting or pardoning others. It expressed concern over the harassment of political parties, including the restrictions imposed on democratic activities, processes and institutions and the detention of persons without due process of law.

11. The Group requested the Secretary-General to continue to offer appropriate technical assistance to Pakistan for strengthening democratic institutions. They agreed that the Commonwealth should observe the local government elections. Ministers also requested the Secretary-General to remain engaged with the Pakistani regime in pursuit of a definite commitment on a clear timetable for the full and early restoration of democracy.

12. The Group noted with interest the process of local government
elections, although there were several deficiencies in the representational nature of those elections. CMAG again expressed the view that there was no justification for delaying parliamentary elections and called upon the regime to announce the dates for elections to provincial and national assemblies. Ministers reiterated that if more definite progress regarding a timetable for the restoration of democracy through free and fair elections was not made by October 2001, CMAG would find it necessary to recommend to Heads of Government that stronger measures be taken by the Commonwealth against the military regime.

Sierra Leone

13. CMAG reviewed the situation in Sierra Leone and received a report from the Secretary-General on his visit to that country in February 2001. Ministers commended the Government of Sierra Leone for its ongoing contribution to peace and reconstruction of the country. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of member states, other regional countries, the United Nations and international and regional organisations to strengthen Sierra Leone's capacity to enforce peace and advance the momentum in its reconstruction and rehabilitation drive. Ministers commended the renewal of the Commonwealth programme of technical assistance for capacity building and electoral management in Sierra Leone and appealed to Commonwealth member countries to respond positively to United Nations' peace-keeping and peace-building efforts in Sierra Leone and the acute humanitarian problems facing the Government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. 14. The Group acknowledged President Kabbah's decision to delay the presidential and parliamentary elections due to the current instability in the country and decided to keep the situation in Sierra Leone under review with a view to assessing its needs and coordinating Commonwealth and international assistance.

15. CMAG noted that the Government of Sierra Leone was not in breach of the principles contained in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, and the considerable progress made in Sierra Leone towards consolidation of peace and stability. The Group requested the Secretary-General to keep CMAG informed of the situation through regular reports.

Solomon Islands

16. The Group reviewed developments in Solomon Islands since its last meeting. They reiterated the Commonwealth's readiness to assist in all practical ways towards the consolidation of peace in Solomon Islands. Ministers urged the Government and all concerned parties in Solomon Islands to maintain their commitment to the Townsville and Marau Peace Agreements and to adhere to the timetable for the proposed parliamentary elections this year. The Group also thanked the regional countries as well as those which were assisting with the International Peace Monitoring Team (IPMT) to implement the Townsville and Marau Peace Agreements, and noted the recent addition of a team member from Botswana, representing the Commonwealth. CMAG appealed to Commonwealth countries to assist the government of Solomon Islands in the consolidation of peace, economic growth and strengthening of democratic processes. Ministers requested the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the peace process.

Next Meeting

17. Ministers decided to hold their next meeting in New York in September 2001.

Statement on Zimbabwe

Ministers used the occasion of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) meeting to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe.

They recalled that at their thirteenth meeting in May 2000, Ministers had expressed concerns over a number of issues in the run-up to Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections. The Ministers were concerned that problems continue, and noted especially recent reports of intimidation of the judiciary and the media. They recalled and affirmed the principles embodied in the Commonwealth Harare Declaration to which all Commonwealth members have pledged their commitment.

Conscious of the importance of the Commonwealth being fully engaged and having accurate information on the situation in Zimbabwe, and in the spirit of co-operation and dialogue which are features of the Commonwealth association, the Ministers decided that a Commonwealth Ministerial Mission should visit Zimbabwe. The Mission would conduct consultations with the Zimbabwe Government, convey its concerns and offer any appropriate Commonwealth assistance. The Mission would consist of the Foreign Ministers of Barbados, Australia, and Nigeria. Ministers request the full co-operation of the Government of Zimbabwe so that this Mission can take place as soon as possible, in order that they can prepare for and advise the forthcoming meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government accordingly. They request the Secretary-General to undertake the necessary preparations.

01/24 20 March 2001