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Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, I990

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Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, I990 ,t."f i POLITICAL REVIEW. MELANESIA 4°1 Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, I990 cemented the new political order ush­ FIJI ered in by the military coups of 1987. This was the year of the new constitu­ Its ethnic Fijian and chiefly biases were tion, promulgated by President Gami­ causes for celebration. Ian on 25 July 1990. For those unable to The new constitution was perhaps keep count, this was Draft Four of a the high-point for the Interim Govern­ document originally drawn up in 1988. ment in a year that saw the consolida­ Draft One had been publicly scruti­ tion of its power and control of the nized through the work of the 1988-89 political agenda. The trend was dis­ Constitutional Enquiry and Advisory tinctly conservative, despite a con­ Committee. The resulting Manueli certed push by the labor unions to con­ Report, submitted to the Interim Gov­ front the government on a range of ernment in August 1989, formed the issues. This trend was established basis of Draft Two. The document was when the new Interim Government was further modified at the June 1990 meet­ announced in January. There were no ing ofthe Great Council of Chiefs (the new faces, and the only change was the Bose Levu Vakaturaga), when urban removal of the three army officers Fijian representation was cut and that (including Major General Rabuka) and of (eastern) rural Fijians augmented. one of the two Indo-Fijian ministers. This third draft was approved and sent In a series of actions throughout the to cabinet for final reworking. The end year, the government deftly (at times result, Draft Four, was officially ruthlessly) took on its opponents, both launched by the president a month within Fiji and abroad. It ordered the later in a lengthy address to the nation. Pacific Islands News Service (PAC­ It is expected to pave the way for par­ NEWS) and the Pacific Islands Broad­ liamentary elections in either late 1991 casting Training and Development or early 1992. Project (PACBROAD) out ofFiji in May. Two days after the promulgation of The official explanation was that these the new constitution, Interim Prime German-funded organizations had Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara violated the terms of their work per­ hosted a "thanksgiving" dinner to mits. Unofficially, the expulsions were honor those public servants, business seen as government retaliation for calls people, and politicians who had made by a companion organization, assisted his government to fulfill its pri­ the Pacific Islands News Association mary objective-the adoption of a new (PINA), for greater freedom of informa­ constitution. The prime minister's tion in the Pacific Islands. This was mood was clearly one of jubilation as construed as criticism ofthe Fiji gov­ he summed up the political situation in ernment's treatment of journalists, Fiji: "It's all over, bar the shouting." especially the foreign press. Indeed, to the Interim Government A second offensive by the govern­ and its supporters, the constitution ment was the expulsion (also in May) • 4 402 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· FALL 1991 ofthe Indian embassy staff and the clo­ matters affecting national security, to sure ofthe embassy office following the combat sedition and foreign interven­ announcement that India would launch tion, and to compile forecasts of world an international campaign against Fiji economic and political trends affecting for its treatment of Indo-Fijians. Such a Fiji. In the hands of an unaccountable campaign would include raising the Fiji government, this service could prove a issue at world forums (such as the powerful, if not dangerous, instrument United Nations Human Rights Com­ of control. Many observers have mission) and continuing to block Fiji's expressed disquiet at the implications readmission to the Commonwealth of of this decree. Nations. The embassy expulsion was The Interim Government was able the culmination of a long and increas­ to assert itself on a number of other ingly bitter feud between India and Fiji. fronts during the year. It seemed to The view from New Delhi is that Indo­ effectively silence the more radical and Fijians are victims of a racist, undemo­ militant elements of the Fijian national­ cratic regime. In November 1989 India ist (Taukei) movement. One maverick withdrew its ambassador from Suva on group, the Soqosoqo i Taukei, mus­ the grounds that it no longer recog­ tered only two hundred marchers in nized a government in Fiji. (India late June for a demonstration calling remains the only country with a formal for the expulsion from Fiji of twelve policy of nonrecognition of and non­ individuals accused of being "anti­ cooperation with the Interim Govern­ Fijian." It was later chastised by the ment). Coincidentally, this move government and president for abusing immediately preceded a Fiji decision to the term taukei. downgrade the Indian embassy to con­ The government also seemed to sular status. Fiji claims political inter­ have its way in its dealings with the ference by India in its internal affairs, army. Pressure was brought on the with allegations that the Indian govern­ army commander to cut spending after ment has provided funds to the opposi­ an auditor general's report revealed a tion Coalition. fourfold increase in the military budget A third and perhaps most sinister for the period 1987-1988. This issue offensive by the Interim Government was particularly embarrassing for the was the promulgation in September of government, given that spending on the Fiji Intelligence Service Decree. health aud education had fallen or This established a National Security remained constant. In November, the Council chaired by the prime minister, government directed the military to an Intelligence Advisory Committee, demobilize 1000 soldiers as a cost-cut­ and a Fiji Intelligence Service. The last ting measure. This will be carried out is given special powers of surveillance, over a period of two-and-a-half years. entry and search, interception of mail, In foreign relations, the Interim and the use ofelectronic listening Government scored a significant vic­ devices. Its main functions are to pro­ tory by swinging Australian and New vide information and assessments to Zealand policy toward acceptance of the National Security Council on all the new constitution. At the South POLITICAL REVIEW. MELANESIA Pacific Forum meeting in Port Vila, concessions. However, it failed in one Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke fundamental objective, which was to declared that the Fiji constitution was force the government to hold elections better than that of many other Com­ for the Cane Growers Council-a stra­ monwealth countries, and urged the tegically vital arm ofthe sugar indus­ Coalition to contest future elections. try. Elections have been repeatedly (Admittedly, the Australian govern­ postponed by the government, largely ment has continued to pursue two poli­ because they would bring to power a cies on Fiji, much to the confusion of council politically aligned with the the Coalition). The election of the opposition Coalition. National Party to government in New The government faced most opposi­ Zealand also promised improved rela­ tion in the garment industry. Garment tions with that country. workers, who are subject to some of There was both bad and good eco­ the worst industrial conditions in Fiji, nomic news for the government. The began to organize effectively in 1990. bad news was a burgeoning trade defi­ Strike after strike drew attention cit that grew by 20 percent in 1990. to their plight and finally drew a This was accompanied by a slowing response. After repeatedly labeling the down in the export sector and a rise in industrial actions as "politically moti­ inflation. Hurricane Sina in late vated destabilization," the government November wreaked havoc with the in November published a proposed cane harvest, already suffering from order regulating conditions in the gar­ inordinate delays caused by a farmer ment industry. This order recom­ boycott and mill breakdowns. As a mended minimum conditions govern­ result, a significant loss in export earn­ ing pay, holidays, and overtime. In ings is expected in 1992. The good another move aimed at controlling news was a steady economic growth labor, the Interim Government rate of5.3 percent in 1990, with a rate announced its intention to deregulate of3.4 percent projected for 1991. Sev­ wages, while at the same time review­ eral successful trade missions pro­ ing trade union legislation to ensure moted Fiji exports within the Pacific that "unions are answerable for their region. The government also pushed actions under the law." ahead with its policies of deregulation, The two arms of the Coalition, the privatization, and a review ofthe tax Labour and National Federation par­ system. ties, jointly and separately maintained The principal challenge to the their opposition to the Interim Govern­ Interim Government in 1990 came ment's policies. Adi Kuini Bavadra, from the trade unions, but even here who succeeded her late husband Dr the government seemed to hold its Timoci Bavadra as leader ofthe Coali­ ground. The strike by cane farmers tion, made several overseas trips to over the terms ofthe new Master drum up support for her cause. A Award (governing the distribution of group of Indo-Fijians traveled to India proceeds from the export of sugar) suc­ to meet with government officials and ceeded in winning some government address public gatherings about the sit- .. .... 1§ ... WUW'" ·em 4'*,+ MiiWW¥PMW titiffi* THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· FALL 1991 uation in Fiji. As with Adi Kuini's over­ ber shocked the public out of its appar­ seas missions, the message from India ent complacency. The vicious retalia­ was sympathetic but not wholly tion against the leader of this protest, encouraging: don't expect too much university lecturer Dr Anirudh Singh, and be prepared to solve your own revealed just how far the political rules problems.
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