Advocacy within the Commonwealth

Submission of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group's meeting, London, June 2000

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) welcomes the prompt meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in the light of the unconstitutional change of government in Fiji, and the continuing difficulties in Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. The arrival of a military government in Fiji, following similar events in Pakistan in 1999, throws into question the solidity of the Commonwealth achievement for democracy and human rights since the Harare Declaration, 1991. It is essential that the Group should speak up for the continued salience of Commonwealth political values, while examining more carefully its processes for sustaining them.

Fiji Islands

CMAG has no option but to suspend the military government of Fiji from membership of the intergovernmental Commonwealth. The Group should also clarify its distinction between suspension - which was applied to the Nigerian military dictatorship - and suspension "from the councils of the Commonwealth", which was applied to the Pakistani military regime. This distinction is not widely understood. If, as the CHRI would hope, this is designed to keep open non-governmental links with populations not responsible for unconstitutional action, the Group should say so.

The possibility that a small gang of armed men could capture a Prime Minister and cabinet is a threat to many small countries in the Commonwealth, and will raise disturbing memories in Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada in the Caribbean. CMAG should not only call for George Speight and the perpetrators of the original coup in Fiji to be brought to justice. It should advise member countries to strengthen their arrangements for the oversight of the security sector, and to review the protection of elected governments, in line with continuing Commonwealth work on the security of small states. It should also request Commonwealth Law Ministers to review arrangements for the amnesty of those accused of unconstitutional acts, or severe human rights abuses.

The Commonwealth should stand ready to assist the new military government in fiji to return to a constitutional path. But it cannot compromise on the principles of racial equality, which are the foundation of the modern Commonwealth. The Group must declare that any new constitutional arrangement, which disadvantages Fiji, citizens of Indian or other origin will guarantee, continued suspension from membership.

At the same time the Group should consider whether the Commonwealth Secretariat or Commonwealth governments acting together, could have done more to support the now deposed President mara and the imprisoned Ministers in the first hours after Speight's coup. There is a view in the pacific that timely Commonwealth action could have shared up constitutional democracy.

It would still be possible for the Group to demonstrate its disapproval of recent events by continuing to recognize President Mara and Prime Minister Choudhary. It is not clear to observers of the growing significance of CMAG why it was thought proper for the Commonwealth to continue to recognize President Kabbah as President of Sierra Leone in 1997, after rebels had expelled him from his country, while elected governments in Pakistan and now Fiji risk being surrendered by the international community.

Zimbabwe

The CHRI welcomes the arrival of the Commonwealth election observers in Zimbabwe, levels of political intimidation over recent months mean that the election of 25 and 26 June will not be regarded as free and fair, but that does not reduce their value. All action possible should be taken to reduce the levels of political violence, and those responsible should be brought before the courts. In particular CMAG should urge the prompt prosecution by the Zimbabwe authorities of those accused of murder and grievous bodily harm.

CMAG should plan for coordinated Commonwealth action in the light of the various likely outcomes of the parliamentary election. Many observers are concerned that violence and destabilization could worsen under certain scenarios. CMAG should invite the High Commissioner of South Africa in London - representing the Chairperson of the Commonwealth, and the most powerful country in Southern Africa - to join it for its deliberations regarding Zimbabwe.

Sierre Leone

As a guarantor of the Lome Peace Accords the Commonwealth has a continued duty to monitor developments in a country in which significant Commonwealth troops are involved in peacekeeping duties and there is a Commonwealth Action Plan in place. CMAG should support the continued pacification of Sierra Leone, and support the bringing to trial of Foday Sankoh, whose RUF has been responsible for grievous human rights abuses. It will be important for the reputation of the Commonwealth that such a trial should be conducted as fairly as possible.