(o) The PM's Unwise Decision on PPDF Meeting: Opinion

The Interim PM's decision not to invite* three hostile political parties (Qarase's SDL, the Indo-Fijian NFP, and the racist Vanua Tako Lavo) to the President's Political Dialogue Forum process meeting (due to start tomorrow to decide the PPDF's terms of reference and agenda) can only be bad news for Fiji. Perhaps the worst in a long time.

The reason for their exclusion is obvious. Their collective record over the past two years has not helped Fiji, and they would almost certainly have sought to disrupt the Forum process, or walk out having not agreed to the agenda and terms of reference. From this perspective, Bainimarama's position seems perfectly understandable (“we want people involved in the political dialogue process who are loyal to Fiji and will discuss issues in terms of the national interest of the people of Fiji.”).

But it is also besides the point. This is a process leading to dialogue, not a rally of political supporters. You cannot arrive at an acceptable consensus by only talking to your friends. NFP leader Pramod Rae is right in saying "the non-participation of both parties will place a lot of doubt on the credibility of the Forum." At the admittedly flawed 2006 elections over one-half of voters voted for the SDL or NFP. Had they been invited and then walked out of tomorrow's meeting, Bainimarama's position would have been strengthened.

There are two further reasons why these parties must ultimately be included. First, as USP historian Dr Sandra Tarte says in another Fiji Times article on March 12th: "Now is the time for flexibility and pragmatism from all political parties ... One should also not rule out the possibility that the positions of the major political parties on certain issues might have shifted since the last election." It is a big ask, but it is a possibility. Little, politically, is as it was before December 2006, and Fiji needs to hang on to every possible helpful possibility.

The second, and more important, reason is that UN and Commonwealth representatives will be at the main Forum meetings. Their presence alone should increase the likelihood of reasonable debate. It will be easier for the public and the world to distinguish between obstructionists and those who seek progress towards a genuine democracy. Their presence should also result in the Forum's decisions being accepted by fair-minded people in Fiji and the international community. Justice, it is said, must be done and be seen to be done.

One can only hope that when the full PPDF finally meets, Voqere Bainimarama will have seen the wisdom of inviting those who have been his most vocal critics, even Laisenia Qarase whom he has the most reason to despise.

To do otherwise could turn the PPDF -- quite possibly Fiji's last lifeline to normalcy -- into something of a farce. -- Crosbie Walsh

* POSTSCRIPT Fiji Times 12:57pm. Parmesh Chand, the permanent secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, said the reported withdrawal of invites by interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was news to him because he was unaware of any such development. Click here. My remarks may be premature.

POSTSCRIPT. Fiji Times Update: 5:11pm "No political party has been barred from the meeting, contrary to earlier media reports."

POSTSCRIPT 10:30 NZ time. No explanation or apology was given for yet another string of false media reports. Why does the media keep doing this? Is it incompetence, their normal way to "make" (and then "unmake") news, or just sheer political bias? Whatever, it's a poor record from which to argue the need for freedom of the press!