16 Apr 2009

Forum chair says any suspension of Fiji will be against interim regime

11:16 am on 16 April 2009

The chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum says any suspension of Fiji from the Forum will be a move against the interim regime and not against the country.

Toke Talagi says he has great sympathy for the people of Fiji who are being muzzled by the military government.

But the Niue Premier says he has written to Pacific leaders to consider whether they should preempt the May the 1st deadline the forum set for Fiji to announce an election date.

"I want to also ascertain from them whether we should take the actions that have been agreed to in Papua New Guinea at the beginning of this year with respect to the suspension of the interim regime from taking part in any of the forum meetings and so on."

Toke Talagi says the forum will also consider whether it should move its operations from Fiji.