Commonwealth suspensions since 1949
<b>FIJI:</b><br>-1987 - Fiji is suspended after a coup. It is allowed back in 1997 after it adopted a new constitution. <br><br>-2006 - Fiji’s military chief, Frank Bainimarama, seized power in a bloodless coup on December 5. The Commonwealth again suspended Fiji and it remains excluded.
THE Commonwealth has threatened Pakistan with suspension unless President Pervez Musharraf repeals emergency laws imposed on November. 3 and takes other steps to restore democracy. The Commonwealth’s ministerial action group was to discuss what action to take yesterday, the eve of a heads of government summit in Kampala. Here is a list of countries that have left the Commonwealth or been suspended since 1949:
FIJI:
-1987 - Fiji is suspended after a coup. It is allowed back in 1997 after it adopted a new constitution.
-2006 - Fiji’s military chief, Frank Bainimarama, seized power in a bloodless coup on December 5. The Commonwealth again suspended Fiji and it remains excluded.
NIGERIA:
-1995 - Nigeria is suspended after it executed nine minority rights activists, including writer Ken Saro-Wiwa. It was readmitted in May 1999.
PAKISTAN:
-1972: Pakistan walks out in protest at Commonwealth recognition of East Pakistan as Bangladesh. It rejoins in 1989.
-1999: Pakistan is suspended after a bloodless coup by General Pervez Musharraf. It was readmitted in 2004 after the Commonwealth recognised progress on democratic reforms.
SIERRA LEONE:
-1997: The Commonwealth suspends the Sierra Leone military junta. The country was readmitted when President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah returned to power in July 1998.
SOUTH AFRICA:
-1961: The Commonwealth upholds racial equality as its cardinal principle, forcing South Africa to withdraw before it is expelled. Pretoria is readmitted in June 1994 following all-race elections.
ZIMBABWE:
-2002: Suspended following Robert Mugabe's controversial victory in flawed elections.
-2003: The Commonwealth agrees to suspend Zimbabwe indefinitely. Mugabe withdraws from the Commonwealth.
FIJI:
-1987 - Fiji is suspended after a coup. It is allowed back in 1997 after it adopted a new constitution.
-2006 - Fiji’s military chief, Frank Bainimarama, seized power in a bloodless coup on December 5. The Commonwealth again suspended Fiji and it remains excluded.
NIGERIA:
-1995 - Nigeria is suspended after it executed nine minority rights activists, including writer Ken Saro-Wiwa. It was readmitted in May 1999.
PAKISTAN:
-1972: Pakistan walks out in protest at Commonwealth recognition of East Pakistan as Bangladesh. It rejoins in 1989.
-1999: Pakistan is suspended after a bloodless coup by General Pervez Musharraf. It was readmitted in 2004 after the Commonwealth recognised progress on democratic reforms.
SIERRA LEONE:
-1997: The Commonwealth suspends the Sierra Leone military junta. The country was readmitted when President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah returned to power in July 1998.
SOUTH AFRICA:
-1961: The Commonwealth upholds racial equality as its cardinal principle, forcing South Africa to withdraw before it is expelled. Pretoria is readmitted in June 1994 following all-race elections.
ZIMBABWE:
-2002: Suspended following Robert Mugabe's controversial victory in flawed elections.
-2003: The Commonwealth agrees to suspend Zimbabwe indefinitely. Mugabe withdraws from the Commonwealth.