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Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1988

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Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1988 150 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· SPRING/FALL 1989 Working Paper Series. Honolulu: Pacific Ganilau as President and Ratu Sir Islands Studies, University ofHawaii. Kamisese Mara continuing as Prime Islands Business. I988. Henry Naisali. Minister in an interim government, Islands Business I4 (April): 20. accorded urgency to persuading pub­ lics at home and abroad that Fiji was Keith-Reid, Robert. I988a. The Fishing Is Good. Islands Business I4 (July): 26-27. returning to normal. For the Austra­ lian, New Zealand, United States, Brit­ ---. I988b. Regional blocs grow. ish, and neighboring South Pacific gov­ Islands Business I4 (February): 8-9,38. ernments, there was a predisposition to Lomas, David. I988. King Taufa'ahau take the regime at its word about its Tupou.Islands Business I4 (February): intentions. For the Mara government, 9-II. the major objectives on the road to Loudon, Bruce. I988. Melanesians to Sign acceptability included acquisition of "Spearhead" Agreement. Australian legitimacy via constitutional change, (national daily, Sydney), I4 March, 4. economic recovery through incentives Mercury. I988. Pacific's New Power Bloc and enlistment of foreign interests, Beats Drum ofFreedom. Mercury (Hobart and, not least, keeping a firm local lid daily), I5 March, 7. on a potentially volatile mix of social, political, and ethnic conflict. Rampell, Ed. I988. Samoa's principled PM. Pacific Islands Monthly 59 (September): The proposed constitutional refor­ 46-49. mulation, in particular intentions . about parliamentary representation, spc (South Pacific Commission). I988. saw details drip fed through a series of Twenty-eighth South Pacific Conference, far from consistent statements. I7 August. Working Paper 7. Noumea. Through a major address to the nation SSD (South Sea Digest). var. Fortnightly, in March, Ratu Sir Kamisese said that Sydney. it was the intention ofhis interim administration to "hold free and open elections once a broadly acceptable constitution was completed." Never­ Melanesia in Review: theless this would "have to ensure the Issues and Events, 1988 full protection ofthe fundamental interests and concerns ofthe indige­ nous Fijian people, but at the same time accommodate on a fair and equi­ FIJI table basis the position of other com­ The dominating feature ofI988 for Fiji munities" (PIM, May 1988, 37). was its attempt to come to terms with Yet in July, when details for such a the consequences of the preceding single chamber parliament comprising year's two military coups. While many 71 seats were announced; such princi­ claimed the country had now changed ples of equity were hardly in evidence. irrevocably through the installation of Indians would elect 22 representatives de facto military rule, the Rabuka­ from a communal roll; Fijians would dominated order, with Ratu Sir Penaia have 28 representatives although, inter- POLITICAL REVIEW. MELANESIA estingly, these individuals would be soundings about constitutional accept­ elected indirectly through the existing ability had to realize there must be a provincial council structure. As well as just and honest appreciation ofthe spe­ being a denial of basic suffrage for cial position ofthe indigenous Fijian future Fijian electors, this measure was community. While Ratu Sir Kamisese obviously designed to empower local Mara expressed hope that free and chiefs. Other races, so-called general open elections under the proposed plan voters, would elect 8 representatives, would be possible before the end of while Rotumans would have I. Ofthe 1989, Rabuka himself was far less 12 remaining seats, all would be filled forthcoming. For Dr Timoci Bavadra, by appointment: 8 by the president, 4 ousted as prime minister by the May by the prime minister (both posts 1987 coup, the plan was undemocratic, reserved for Fijians), with 1 seat among discriminatory, and unacceptable. these being permanently reserved for Questions as to whether Rabuka the current commander ofthe coun­ was sincere about any effective return try's security forces. to the civil rule oflaw were sharpened As outlined, the proposal was a bla­ by his June promulgation ofsweeping tant gerrymander that favored the security provisions by decree. This pro­ dominating eastern chiefly establish­ vided for immediate arrest, detention, ment. By abolishing the former system and search without warrant-measures ofnational election, where almost half that were employed arbitrarily to ofthe candidates elected to the lower silence and intimidate academics, law­ house ofparliament were elected by yers, unionists, journalists, and dis­ "cross-voting" ofelectors of all races, senters. Leading public figures the plan stymied any chance of a party accorded such treatment included Fiji winning a majority of seats by multira­ Times editor Vijendra Kumar, foreign cial appeals. And for bodies such as the minister in the ousted Bavadra govern­ increasingly fragmented Taukei move­ ment, Krishna Datt, and the unionist ment and Fijian Nationalist Party, Mahendra Chaudhry. These sweeps which had previously campaigned with were especially intense at mid-year fol­ vigor against aspects ofchiefly rule at lowing the discovery by Sydney cus­ election time, that opportunity was toms authorities of an arms cache pre­ now curtailed. sumed destined for Lautoka, and the Aware ofthese disquiets, and mind­ subsequent arrest by British police of ful that public discussion had been an Indo-Fijian, M. R. Kahan, charged driven underground, the regime went with implication in planning this ship­ through the motions ofconsultation by ment. establishing a Constitution Inquiry and Civil rights abuses by the regime Advisory Committee headed by Colo­ were criticized by Amnesty Interna­ nel P. Manueli, a Rotuman and former tional and the Indian government, commander ofthe Royal Fiji Military while Australia indicated that any fur­ Force. While Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau ther increase of aid to Fiji would called on the public to cooperate with remain conditional on progress toward this body, he acknowledged that a return to constitutional rule and THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· SPRING/FALL 1989 relaxation ofthe June security decree. lines in west Viti Levu, his September Under these conditions, it was not sur­ claims that the power ofprayer had prising that ofthe 3200 people who left facilitated an accommodation with a Fiji on a permanent basis during the faction ofthe Taukei movement first seven months of1988, 86 percent headed by the extremist Ratu Meli were of Indian origin. Vesikula received a mixed response To combat sluggish economic per­ among Indian leaders. formance, where inflation rose to II Although the University ofthe percent and where unemployment was South Pacific maintained a full pro­ at an official rate of 10 percent, the gram throughout the year, Pacific regime was active in attempting to Islands leaders conferring at their attract foreign investment. This regular Forum meeting in September included plans for a tax-free zone per­ (where Fiji was kept off the formal mitting foreign enterprises with heavy agenda), expressed private concern at export orientation generous long-term the university's longer term prospects. concessions, the establishment of for­ Within a climate of growing conserva­ eign textile concerns using cheap local tism and fear of debate or criticism, labor, and the sale of tourist and hotel such concern seemed justifiable. assets to holdings such as the Japan­ Finally, the year for Fiji was perhaps based Electrical Industrial Enterprises. most fittingly epitomized by Rabuka's Because ofretrenchment and a decision, on the eve ofthe republic's decline in imports, two devaluations of first anniversary, to promote himself the Fiji dollar in 1987, and reasonably forthwith to the rank ofmajor general. buoyant world sugar prices, the coun­ RODERIC ALLEY try's foreign exchange holdings remained healthy at over F$200 million NEW CALEDONIA for most of1988. Otherwise stringent regulations regarding Sabbath observ­ A dramatic shift in the political situa­ ance were relaxed to permit cane har­ tion ofNew Caledonia occurred during vesting. For the longer term, and in 1988 with the change of government in respect ofoperations such as the tourist France from the conservative President industry, the economic future ofFiji Chirac to the second socialist presi­ was seen as depending critically on dency of Frans;ois Mitterrand. Solidly whether continuing political uncer­ conservative policies were in place in tainty could be resolved and confidence the territory following the September restored. 1987 referendum, in which almost all Throughout Fiji during the year, ofthe 59 percent of the population that social conditions on a daily basis voted favored New Caledonia remain­ remained outwardly calm, though such ing part of France. Despite the strong placidity was deceptive. Relations opposition ofthe major Melanesian between the two major communities political coalition, the Front de Libera­ remained sullen and distant. While Dr tion Nationale Kanake et Socialiste Bavadra attempted to rebuild support (FLNKS), the minister for overseas for his Labour Party along multiracial departments and territories, Bernard.
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