Military-ruled Fiji remained defiant Saturday after its historic
suspension from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum, rejecting the "punitive
action" for delayed election and warning it won't be deterred from its chosen
path even by "adversity".
The coup-plagued nation was
suspended from the regional bloc Saturday for what the forum called its
rejection of democracy, freedom and human rights.
The
suspension, the first in the forum's 37-year history, bars Fiji's leader,
ministers and officials from taking part in any meetings or events, and cuts
Fiji out of development funding until a democratic government is
restored.
Chairman Toke Talagi, premier of the micro-state
of Niue, said Fiji's rejection of fundamental principles like "the full
observance of democratic values" and the defence and promotion of human rights
violations had given the forum no alternative.
But Fiji
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum said the military government "shall not be
deterred from any of its objectives even in the face of adversity, created by
some".
"The statement ... falsely refers to so-called
breaches of basic human rights, democracy and freedom under a military regime,"
Sayed Khaiyum said in a statement. He did not
elaborate.
He accused regional powers Australia and New
Zealand of using their influence to force its suspension because of their
"political agendas" and rejected the demand that Fiji hold elections within
eight months.
"The untenable proposition that elections
should be held at any cost immediately, even under a flawed system, is not only
patroniSing but demonstrates a lack of commitment to true democracy and
sustainable parliamentary representation," he said.
On
Friday, Fiji's military ruler, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, defied inteRnational
pressure to announce elections, confirming that he would not hold them for five
years.
AP