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Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1996

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Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1996 Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1996 For the first time, a review of Irian the Fiji Labour Party. It was expected Jaya is included in this issue. that these would continue in the lead- up to the handing over of the Constitu- tion Review Commission report. But overshadowing the national consensus Fiji talks was the government’s handling of In his new year address to the nation, the highly charged land issue. Agricul- Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka urged tural leases are due to expire in 1997, the people of Fiji to make 1996 the under the Agricultural Landlord and year of “national consensus.” It was Tenants Act (alta). In February, leader perhaps an appropriate refrain, given of the House of Representatives and the expected challenges that lay ahead. government backbencher Koresi Mata- Uppermost in the prime minister’s tolu announced that his newly formed mind was dealing with the findings of Fijian Canegrowers Association would the Constitution Review Commission. campaign for the nonrenewal of cane Its report was due to be handed to leases for Indian farmers. He also President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara claimed that Fijian cane farmers (who sometime in the middle of the year. But currently make up about 25 percent of if 1996 was remarkable for one thing, the farmers) would “take over the it was the prime minister’s ability to sugar industry by the year 2000.” confuse and confound political foes What incensed the Indian opposition and allies alike. In a year marked by was the government’s (and Rabuka’s) economic gloom and political uncer- silence in the wake of these claims and tainty, the prime minister’s quest for their failure to censure Matatolu. “national consensus” seemed to raise Instead there was a general plea from more questions than it answered. How the deputy prime minister for “greater serious and genuine was Sitiveni sensitivity” on all sides. Rabuka? More important, was he By March “Fijian unity” seemed to capable of forging national consensus have replaced “national consensus” as in Fiji, providing the strong and the government’s first priority. The enlightened leadership so desperately Fijian Association Party leader, Jose- needed? fata Kamikamica, failed yet again in The national consensus initiative his bid to win the Tailevu seat in the got off to a rocky start in February, House of Representatives, his third when the ruling party, the Soqosoqo ni loss since the general elections in 1994 Vakavulewa ni Taukei (svt), held and the second in a by-election. He “National Consensus Talks” with the lost to the svt candidate, Ratu Manasa two Indian opposition parties, the Seniloli. Immediately after the by-elec- National Federation Party (nfp) and tion, Rabuka offered the Fijian Associ- 458 political reviews • melanesia 459 ation Party (fap) a possible coalition media, there was no consensus on the partnership with the Soqosoqo ni prime minister’s position on the issue. Vakavulewa ni Taukei. The offer was As one observer noted, “No one can made through President Ratu Sir recollect whether Rabuka had actually Kamisese Mara. It was suggested by mentioned a government of national Rabuka that Kamikamica could be unity in any definitive form” (Review, given a seat in cabinet through May 1996, 20). appointment to the Senate. Observers The prospects for a marriage speculated that Rabuka’s invitation to between the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa the Fijian Association Party, which ni Taukei and the Fijian Association caught everyone—not least Kami- Party seemed to be killed by the death kamica—by surprise, was motivated of Ratu Manasa Seniloli, the newly by Rabuka’s need for Kamikamica’s elected representative for Tailevu. help in managing the nation’s eco- Known to be terminally ill at the time nomic problems. It was also suggested of the election, his death only weeks that Kamikamica’s entry to the cabinet into his term unexpectedly forced the might have a “calming effect” on the issue of whether or not to field a joint Indian opposition, insofar as he was svt-fap candidate. Rabuka had regarded as a moderate on constitu- mooted the idea in the media the tional issues. But there was also the previous month, suggesting that possibility that this was part of a ploy Kamikamica could be nominated by Rabuka to exert control and lever- unopposed for the seat in any future age over the svt caucus—a way to by-election. In May, talks led by svt ensure cooperation and unity within powerbroker Inoke Kubuabola were caucus when dealing with issues like held with the Fijian Association Party the Agricultural Landlord and Tenants on the issue of a joint candidate. But Act and the constitution. Rabuka was reportedly against the Whatever the intention, the initia- idea, stating that he did not need the tive failed to materialize and the coali- Fijian Association Party. Both parties tion talks broke down after barely subsequently fielded separate candi- beginning. In April, Rabuka accused dates. the Fijian Association Party of setting The Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni conditions, including the requirement Taukei nominated former Commis- that Kamikamica be the coalition sioner Western Lagisoa Delana, while leader. It was later found that Rabuka the Fijian Association Party decided to had based his claims on inaccurate try a new tack and nominated Bau media reports and no such condition high chief Ratu Epenisa Cakobau had been made. Rabuka also stated instead of Kamikamica. The Fijian that talks with the opposition leader, Association Party hoped that the Jai Ram Reddy, were going well, Cakobau name would carry enough removing the need for a coalition with weight to swing the votes in their the Fijian Association Party. But while favor. This was not to be, and the the idea of a government of national Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei unity was being bandied around in the once again scored a victory in the by- 460 the contemporary pacific • fall 1997 election held in June. Reflecting the and discipline within his ranks. In divisions in the chiefly establishment, May, the volatile and unpredictable the svt candidate had been strongly backbencher (and Rabuka’s uncle), supported by the two powerful sisters Militoni Leweniqila, publicly threat- of the Fijian Association Party’s candi- ened to bring down the Rabuka gov- date, Adi Litia Cakobau and Adi ernment. He had made similar threats Samanunu Talakuli. in previous years. Although the out- While the two Fijian parties failed burst was quickly quelled, and a public to resolve their differences, there were and tearful apology made by Lewe- signs of greater cooperation between niqila was accepted, the incident the Fijian Association Party and other appeared to be the catalyst for a cabi- political parties. The Fijian Association net reshuffle. Rabuka announced the Party invited nfp leader Jai Ram new cabinet line-up in June, the ninth Reddy to address a fundraising dinner in four years. It was widely regarded as in May, and there was agreement creating Rabuka’s best cabinet to date, between the National Federation Party, with the inclusion of several highly the Fijian Association Party, the Fiji competent ministers. Also included Labour Party, and the General Electors were some well-known and outspoken Party to field joint candidates in the critics of the prime minister, Leweni- up-coming municipal elections, under qila among them. But if Rabuka had the banner of a new Ratepayers’ Asso- sought to strengthen party unity with ciation. his new cabinet line-up, the manner in The Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni which the reshuffle was announced Taukei, meanwhile, indicated that it seemed highly provocative. None of might be prepared to change the racial the cabinet ministers dropped by exclusivity of its party. In May a com- Rabuka were personally informed of mittee reviewing its constitution sug- their removal, and Rabuka flew out of gested that the party be opened up to the country just hours after finalizing other races. This was interpreted as a the reshuffle. For those former minis- revival of the “three-legged stool” con- ters, justifiably dismayed at their cept of the old Alliance Party of Ratu demotions, this treatment would have Mara, which was a combination of the caused some disquiet and resentment. Fijian Association, the Indian Alliance, The country awaited the release of and the General Electors Association. the Constitution Review Commission Some observers believed the proposal report with some trepidation. The was an attempt to instill credibility in Indian opposition parties attempted to the government, while others saw it as sound hopeful and optimistic, but this a sign that the Soqosoqo ni Vaka- was a difficult task given the anti- vulewa ni Taukei recognized it could Indian tone of the Soqosoqo ni Vaka- not solve the nation’s problems with- vulewa ni Taukei’s own submission to out the participation of all races. the commission in October 1995. That Rabuka’s thoughts on this issue submission had rejected the need for were not made public, but he was any change to the 1990 constitution. clearly troubled by problems of unity According to Jai Ram Reddy, “We take political reviews • melanesia 461 it one step at a time. I have put my dling of numerous allegations, and good faith in the decency and good actual cases, of mismanagement, cor- faith of all races and I am working on ruption, and abuse of office. The that premise. If at the end of the road Native Lands Trust Board itself that does not work out, then we will became the focus of a police investiga- look at other options” (Review, May tion after a former assistant auditor 1996, 19). alleged misuse of a total of f$200 mil- The issue of land and the review of lion by the board.
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