Asia Times: Fiji takes first step on long road back to democracy


	March 15, 2001	atimes.com

Oceania

Fiji takes first step on long road back to democracy
By Robin Newbold

Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs has appointed Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president in a bid to steer the racially divided South Pacific nation out of its post-coup political turmoil. Commentators see Iloilo's appointment as a first step to restoring democracy in Fiji after a nationalist coup ousted the country's first ethnic Indian-led government last May. Meanwhile, the Australian government has eased restrictions on Fijian sporting teams to allow its soccer team to compete in next month's World Cup qualifying tournament in Australia.

Fiji has been wracked by political crisis since a May 19 coup led by George Speight, the self-styled champion of Fijian interests once described as a political lightweight, and his nationalist supporters. The seeds of the coup were sown by inter-racial hatred against the island nation's powerful Indian community. The Indians were brought to Fiji as indentured labor by British colonists more than 100 years ago, and dominate the key industries of sugar and garment manufacturing, and make up 44 percent of the population.

The coup toppled a government which was the symbol of the rise in the political power of the Indian community, advances encouraged by a multi-racial constitution drafted in 1997. It resulted inthe election of ethnic Indian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry, who said he feared for his life during the dark days after the coup.

The Indian community was badly damaged and isolated by the racial hatred stirred up by Speight, with many shops and businesses looted and burned. It is feared by community leaders that if they spend years in the political wildneress there could be no way back. But Chaudhry says: "I think I have a vision for Fiji. Unfortunately we were not allowed fo fulfil that - we were deposed after 12 months. But I will continue to work for the people."

The country has been mired in political crisis since Speight and his nationalist rebels stormed the parliament building. They took Chaudhry and members of his multi-racial cabinet hostage. The army declared martial law and soldiers patrolled the capital Suva as talks between the two sides tried to find a solution to the hostage crisis.

The rebels' demands, which they eventually won, were: * The scrapping of the country's multi-ethnic constitution;
* The formation of a new government made up entirely of ethnic Fijian politicians, and;
* An amnesty for all those involved in the coup.

The deal was signed on June 9, and Speight was expected to have a strong influence over the formation of the new government, with his choice of president, Iloilo, agreed upon. But he rejected the composition of a proposed interim cabinet. His choice for prime minister was the nationalist Adi Samanunu Cakobau, but the president instead appointed Laisenia Qarase, who was backed by the military. On July 26, the army arrested Speight and a number of his supporters. He now languishes in prison on the uninhabited island of Nukulau facing charges of treason.

The new government under Prime Minister Qarase was sworn in shortly after Speight's arrest and included just one ethnic Indian who was not offered a cabinet post, provoking a storm of protests from around the world against the unelected, interim administration. Australia demanded the reinstatement of the legally elected government under Chaudhry, with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer imposing a raft of tough sanctions to "keep up the international pressure to get Fiji back to democracy". They included the withdrawal of non-humanitarian aid and the suspension of defense and sporting ties, and remain in place today.

Sitiveni Rabuka, the chairman of Fiji's influential decision making-body, the highest institution of indigenous Fijians, the Great Council of Chiefs, claimed at the time that sanctions against his country were aimed at the wrong target. He added that the "government was trying to put things back together".

It appears that many months on, things are being "put back together" in Fiji, left in political limbo after a March 1 Court of Appeal ruling that the post-coup, military-backed interim administration of Prime Minister Qarase was illegal. On March 13, Fiji's Great Council appointed Iloilo as president to steer the racially split South Pacific nation out of its post-coup political crisis. Iloilo, whose term as acting president was due to expire in two days, was chosen by more than 50 chiefs who gathered amid tight security at an army barracks on the outskirts of the capital Suva.

Commentators claim Iloilo's appointment is the first step towards restoring constitutional government in Fiji after the nationalist coup. He is expected to recall parliament, which has not sat since May 19, 2000, and then dissolve it ahead of fresh elections.

Earlier, a special Commonwealth envoy warned the Fijian authorities that any attempt to bypass the 1997 multiracial constitution would have serious international and domestic consequences.

In another twist, however, Iloilo made a suprise choice of new prime minister late on Tuesday. He swore in Ratu Tevita Momoedonu, passing over Qarase who served as interim premier. It had been expected that Qarase would continue to hold office until new elections could be held later in the year. Momoedonu, like the president and Qarase, is an ethnic Fijian.

Meanwhile, Australia, in a "one-off decision", delivered a diplomatically-timed statement on Tuesday, announcing its intention to allow Fiji to take part in the Oceania World Cup football qualifiers. Foreign Minister Downer said the announcement did not affect a series of measures Australia had taken against Fiji since July 18 of last year, adding: "Those measures, including those applying to sporting teams, will remain in place until there is more tangible progress towards restoring democracy in Fiji." However, it's at least a sign that Fiji has avoided yet another own-goal.

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