Fiji & Commonwealth

On Sept. 1, the British Commonwealth voted to make Fiji a “suspended member” after that country refused to set a date for elections by 2010. Primarily a symbolic gesture of protest over the current military government’s recalcitrance, this means that Fiji cannot attend any Commonwealth meetings, take part in the 2010 Commonwealth Games or receive technical aid or training.

The Commonwealth now is made of 53 former British colonies, dependencies and territories. Fiji also was suspended in 2000 and 2006, each time after a coup.