Minor revisions, 28.9.09There was no doubt who he was referring to when he said, “Our people pose no threat to anyone, least of all to the big powers of the South Pacific who have abrogated to themselves the right to dictate to us our future and the way we govern ourselves. In all of this, they have used their extensive diplomatic and financial resources to deny Fiji to participate in new peacekeeping operations."
Not for the first time he said overseas critics had little understanding of the Fiji situation. They still seem "largely unaware of the extent to which politicians, in league with those who employ terror as a tactic to push a racial supremacy and corrupt agenda, had become a threat to the safety and security of our people." He outlined his roadmap to elections in 2014 and again invited “the international community to engage with us, visit our country to see the situation for themselves and to provide practical support and assistance to enable us to implement the reforms”.
And over the weekend Fiji's opponents within the Commonwealth stated they wanted Fiji excluded from next year's Games in Delhi. Bainimarama had written endorsing Commonwealth principles but this was not enough. They wanted "reactivating dialogue with Fiji’s political party leaders, leading to credible elections in the country no later than October 2010." Here are my reasons why I think their demands would not lead to a fairer and more democratic Fiji:
My Comments on Dialogue
I think Government should immediately agree to revive the dialogue process and progressively ease the Public Emergency Regulations, but I do not think it would be helpful to confine dialogue to "Fiji's political party leaders" --or even include them -- unless these parties first reveal how they stand on electoral and constitutional reform and disclose their vision for Fiji.
I continue to wonder why they have not made public their views on constitutional reform, the presidency, the senate, the Great Council of Chiefs, electoral reform, so-called affirmative action and so-called pro-Fijian legislation, public service reform, corruption, land reform, land leases, multi-cultural and multi-lingualism, and poverty alleviation. Dialogue is not just about elections; it's about the Fiji that Can Be.
The Bainimarama Government has stated and shown where it stands on these critical issues. If its opponents would do the same (and why haven't they?) Fiji citizens and foreign observers alike would be able to compare their philosophies and policies with those of the Government. They would also have "promises" they could insist were kept.
My Comments on Elections
Neither do I think it wise to insist on elections in 2010. This would merely allow the "old" essentially race-based parties to re-form, re-group and return to parliament, with absolutely no gains for Fiji. There would be democracy in name only. Race-based policies would return. To retain support, Fijian (and Indo-Fijian) politicians, acting for themselves and their respective elites, would continue to play the "race card" to win electoral support from ordinary Fijians and Indo-Fijians. The basic cause of coups would not have been removed.
It is far too early for elections. Time is needed for new Fijian and Indo-Fijian leaders to emerge, untainted with the racism of their predecessors. Time is need to absorb the lessons of the last three years. Time is needed to reassure the "reserve army" of less educated Fijians that multi-culturalism is no threat to their economic or cultural interests. Time is needed to show that Government's dream of a better and fairer Fiji can work.
Meanwhile, I would like to see Government increase the size of Cabinet to make it more inclusive and representative so that it may be seen as an unelected "Government of National Unity" until elections are held in 2014.
Photo: Fiji Village.
5 comments:
Great analysis Prof. May I suggest that the reason the political parties have not disclosed their views on substantive issues is; EITHER that they have never formulated views outside race,race,race OR they disagree with the Bainimarama plan for equality, non-racial voting, no tolerance of corruption and sustainable development, land use, and state services.Why should we expect them to agree with these plans? They have lived off the fat of the land for decades. Will we ever forget Beddoes backing the SDL government vote on VAT on essential food items?
My assessment is that the UN and the Commonwealth know very well that reforms are needed in Fiji. They both know how despicable previous leadership has been in Fiji, how corrupt, and how undemocratic. However Australia and New Zealand backed by the British is too formidable a lobby group to resist. Therefore the sanctions, timelines, and ultimatums. All of which will inevitably be ignored by Fiji, and which the lobby knows very well will be ignored. So what really is the game plan for the big countries?
There is no Game Plan. That much is obvious. They can't show support for Bainimarama no matter how good his intentions, simply because he overthrew a so called "democratic" government. Politicos have to stick together - plus they can't have the possibility of any military men in their own countries considering these options... if they did, the world would have been rid of George Bush at least 4 years ago.
For Australia & NZ, Bainimarama is a man they cannot control, and so they fear that and the possibility of this apple spoiling their influence over others in the Pacific barrel.
More than likely Helen Clarke still plays a major role in all of this as it was she who "lost face" in her failed mediation between Qarase & Frank in New Zealand. Hell hath no fury like a woman(?) scorned..
I am happy to see Bainamarama atleast trying to tell his story. His Governments PR machinery really needs to crank up and tell as many people as who would listen on the going ons in Fiji.
Agreed Snoopy.The PR machine needs to work harder. But great speech and good to see that unlike last year the Fiji TV and Fiji Sun gave it some coverage. The Times still sulking??
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