FIJI’S SUSPENSION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH:
COMMONWEALTH GAMES FEDERATION ACCEDES TO FASANOC REQUEST
On 11th October, at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) meeting in Delhi, India, FASANOC made a submission to the CGF Executive Board calling for, among other things, the removal by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) of sports as an item the Commonwealth can impose sanctions on. As a result of our meeting with the CGF Executive Board, FASANOC and the CGF Executive Board, jointly agreed to a line of action to remove sports as a “sanctionable” item. Fiji received overwhelming support for our cause from the Commonwealth Games Federation and the individual Commonwealth Games Associations.
Since the Commonwealth Secretariat announced the full suspension of Fiji from the Commonwealth, the President of the CGF advised us that in accordance with the CGF constitution FASANOC’s membership to the CGF had been fully suspended. He offered us the opportunity to attend the Delhi General Assembly as observers with speaking rights, and on that basis we attended the meeting.
Given the importance and recognition that sports is a powerful vehicle for peace building, unity and conflict resolution, we appealed to the Commonwealth Leadership (CHOGM) to remove sport as a “sanctionable” item. This would not only help Fiji athletes but would help athletes of other Commonwealth Games Associations who would find themselves in similar situation in the future.
We had also requested that as a possible way forward, the CGF and the Commonwealth Secretariat work collaboratively with FASANOC to find ways and means of ensuring Fiji athletes are not deprived of the opportunity of participating in the Delhi 2010 Games Commonwealth Games.
Background:
In late August the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat Mr. Kamlesh Sharma announced the suspension from the Commonwealth. In his statement Mr. Sharma elaborated on a number of sanctions or restrictions imposed on Fiji. There are three points in the statement we had issues with, which we raised with the CGF and these are:
1. Fiji will not be able to participate in the commonwealth sporting events; no Commonwealth technical assistance can be provided to Fiji, with the exception of assistance aimed at facilitating the restoration of democracy.
2. While Fiji will remain a member of the Commonwealth, all emblematic representation of Fiji at the Commonwealth Secretariat, at Commonwealth meetings and all other official Commonwealth events will cease;
3. Any contact at professional and non-governmental levels with Fiji counterparts will be left to the discretion of individual pan-Commonwealth organisations.
4. Representatives of the Interim Government of Fiji will be excluded from participation at all intergovernmental Commonwealth meetings; likewise, nominees of the Interim Government will not be able to take part in other intergovernmental Commonwealth activities.
FASANOC immediately sought clarification from the CGF on the restrictions and challenged the Commonwealth Secretariat’s right to bar Fiji athletes from taking part in Commonwealth sporting events.
On 22nd September all the Commonwealth countries and Territories met in Rarotonga which was attended by Mr. Mike Hooper, the CEO of the CGF. All the countries/territories present affirmed FASANOC’s right to take part in the Commonwealth Games and also agreed to write to their Governments and ask them to write to the Commonwealth Secretariat showing their support for Fiji.
On 26th of September, the Commonwealth Secretariat issued another Statement soon after a Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting in New York. From this Statement we quote a paragraph in which the Commonwealth Secretariat requested the CGF not to allow Fiji athletes to take part in the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games:
“In relation to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, consistent with the precedent of the earlier decision of CMAG, the Group requested the Commonwealth Games Federation to take into serious consideration CMAG’s decision in relation to the suspension of the Fiji Islands, in determining Fiji’s participation in the Games.”
Outcome of the October 11 meeting:
On 11th October, I along with our Hon. Secretary General Mr Atma Maharaj and Hon Treasurer Mr Chris Yee, met with Executive Board of the CGF and appealed to them to allow Fiji Athletes to take part in the Delhi Games. FASANOC’s appeal is attached.
As a result of our meeting with the CGF Executive Board, both FASANOC and the CGF Executive Board jointly agreed to the following line of action:
• Recognise that the CGF was complying with and enforcing provisions of its own Constitution.
• FASANOC will, for the time being, table its constitutional amendments proposals submitted to the CGF in March, 2009.
• That FASNOC and the CGF work with the Commonwealth Secretariat to find a solution to enable Fiji Athletes to take part in the 2010 Delhi Games.
• That a delegation consisting of Representatives of FASANOC and CGF meet with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat as soon as possible resolve the Fiji issue and more importantly remove “sporting sanctions in future”.
• In agreeing to the points listed above, FASANOC reserved its rights to take whatever action it thought appropriate to secure participation in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games
The Delhi General Assembly unanimously supported the agreement reached. We received overwhelming support for our cause.
We will together with the President of the CGF call on the Commonwealth Secretariat at the end of this month to meet with the Secretary General.
We will be writing to all CGAs to requesting them to solicit the support of their heads of Government at the CHOGM in Port of Spain in November to remove sports as an item from all Commonwealth Secretariat sanctions.
VIDHYA LAKHAN
20 October 2009
Attached is FASANOC's appeal to the Commonwealth Games Association
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