Common Cause has released the following joint statement as Trinidad and Tobago prepares to host the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting:

CHOGM 2009 is a chance for member states to build a stronger and more progressive Commonwealth of Nations where every citizen without exception is free to enjoy his or her fundamental human rights.

To help achieve this members of Common Cause, the alliance of Commonwealth republican movements, are expanding the alliance.

We are working to establish and support republic movements in all countries that retain the British monarch as head of state.

Membership of the expanded alliance is open to republican
movements in any Commonwealth country where citizens are seeking to replace
the British monarch with a modern, democratically selected alternative.

Common Cause is an agreement to share ideas and resources among the republican campaigns in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The member organisations currently include Republic (in the UK), Citizens for a Canadian Republic, the Australian Republican Movement and the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

We see the Commonwealth as an organisation of 53 democracies, all learning from each others’ experiences. Democratic development in each member state enables all other Commonwealth nations to reflect and improve upon the principles of democracy each nation aspires to.

Our goal is a Commonwealth of modern republics, each assisting the other to improve its democracy and achieve greater levels of prosperity and equality for its people. Of the 53 member countries, 37 do not have the British monarch as head of state.

There are tens of millions of voters across the Commonwealth who share our concerns about democracy, prosperity and equality. We are looking forward to working with them to remove the contradictions between having the British monarch as head of state and these fundamental democratic rights.

The Commonwealth is committed to the principles of democratic freedom, equality and to opposing discrimination in all its forms. The British monarchy is incompatible with all of these aims.

Common Cause calls on the Commonwealth to ask Queen Elizabeth to step gracefully aside as Head of the Commonwealth. The colonial era is over and retaining the British monarch as Head of the Commonwealth is incompatible with the principles of democracy and nationhood.

Commonwealth members also need to decide whether the position of Head of the Commonwealth is necessary and, if it is, how the position should be filled. Common Cause notes that the Commonwealth has a Secretary-General appointed by the member countries for a four year term. The duties of Head of the Commonwealth could be fulfilled by the Secretary-General, in a manner similar to the role performed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Allowing the monarchy to maintain its political privileges in a Commonwealth committed to ending discrimination and poverty is inappropriate and unacceptable.

Leaders meeting at CHOGM 2009 need to begin planning for a Commonwealth without the British monarchy. A 21st century Commonwealth needs to fully commit itself to the principles it espouses.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 5:08 pm and is filed under Common Cause. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.