Fiji's suspension automatic - McCully

Fiji will be automatically suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum at midnight tomorrow if it doesn't meet the conditions of the deadline set by the regional body, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today.

The forum set May 1 as the deadline for Fiji to announce an election timetable and name a date for elections this year.

Self-appointed prime minister Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama has ignored it and has said there won't be elections until 2014.

"The deadline has been set. It doesn't look like we're going to see anything to stave it off," Mr McCully told reporters.

"It's an immediate trigger on a set date."

Mr McCully said he expected the forum's secretariat, which is based in Suva, would announce the suspension.

"No approval is required. Action will be taken by the secretariat," Mr McCully said.

Suspension will raise the question of whether the forum should continue to base the secretariat in Fiji.

Mr McCully said no immediate action would be taken on that.

"I think we should wait and see what develops after May 1," he said.

"It's up to Fiji whether they decide to impede the actions of the secretariat in any way.

"I think there's a good argument to be mounted that for the forum to initiate steps to remove the secretariat might provoke issues further."

Mr McCully said the forum should wait to find out whether secretariat was able to operate in Suva "in a credible fashion" after Fiji was suspended.

"Then the issue is a moral one -- how comfortable they feel about an organisation that espouses democracy and the rule of law having a secretariat housed in Fiji," he said.

"They may be quite comfortable on a temporary basis to see what develops."

Suspension means Fiji will not be able to take part in Forum activities or attend its meetings.

It is likely to be the starting point for other international action against Fiji.

Mr McCully said the forum was the regional body and was seen as the lead agency.

"Commonwealth members have taken the view that they should follow the regional body," Mr McCully said.

"That continues to be their view, as I understand it."

He said he doubted the Commonwealth would act immediately because its action committee would have to meet to discuss the situation.

Fijian Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said yesterday the suspension would not take place because Cdre Bainimarama had written to forum members to advise them of recent developments.

"I admire his optimism," said Mr McCully.

NZPA