Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, I994 A review of Solomon Islands was not Tailevu seat to SVT'S candidate, Bau available for this issue. high chief Adi Samanunu Talakuli. Rabuka accused his Fijian detractors FIJI of disloyalty and treachery and asked The first significant event of the year his people for a second chance. They came in February when the country responded. The Indo-Fijian side of the went to snap polls following the defeat electorate preferred Jai Ram Reddy's of the budget in November 1993. The moderate, conciliatory stance to budget was defeated by 10 government Labour leader Mahendra Chaudhary's backbenchers who joined 27 Indo­ more aggressive tone. Fijian opposition members to vote Back in office with a secure man­ against it. Sitiveni Rabuka's oppo­ date, Rabuka promised the country a nents had hoped to use the election to "stable, decisive, consistent and coher­ oust him from office, but they miscal­ ent" government (PR, 21 Mar 1994). culated. Confounding critics and dissi­ To that end, he resurrected a previous, dents, Rabuka and his party, the hastily conceived proposal to include Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei the National Federation Party (NFP) in (SVT), returned to power with 32 of the a coalition government. The sugges­ 37 seats reserved for ethnic Fijians tion came in typical Rabuka fashion, under the 1990 constitution, and without consultation or prior discus­ formed a coalition government with sion with anyone, including his parlia­ the General Voters Party. On the.Indo­ mentary caucus. Neither his own party Fijian side, the National Federation nor the NFP knew precisely what Party increased its parliamentary Rabuka had in mind. "The door will majority from 14 to 20, while the Fiji be kept open but it will require careful Labour Party won the remaining 7 consultations on both sides and allocated to the Indo-Fijian community between ourselves," he said (FT, I Mar (LaI1994)· 1994). Reddy was unimpressed. Call­ Fijian parties including the Fijian ing Rabuka's offer "highly specula­ Christian National United Front, led tive," he cautioned, "The potential by the fiery nationalist Sakiasi Buta­ gulf between us and the Government droka, and the All Nationals Congress, on a future constitution of Fiji could led by Apisai Tora, failed to win any be so enormous that it would be seats, while SVT'S chief rival, Josefata utterly unrealistic for the opposition to Kamikamica's newly formed Fijian get locked into a government of Association Party, with Ratu Finau national unity until such time that we Mara as one of its candidates, man­ are able to narrow down those differ­ aged to win only five seats, three of ences" (FT, 4 Mar 1994). Nothing them in Lau where President Ratu more was heard of the proposal. Mara is the paramount chief. Kamika­ Fulfilling his campaign promise to mica, silently backed by Mara, lost his provide a lean and effective govern- 355 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· FALL 1995 ment, Rabuka began by reducing the ber in the cabinet reduced to one (later size of his cabinet from 25 (including 7 restored to two), but Rabuka also gave ministers of state) to 12. Dropped the impression of treating his GVP from the cabinet were Rabuka's long­ ministers with little respect. He first time ally from the Taukei Movement relieved Minister of Tourism and Civil days, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, and the Aviation Harold Powell of responsibil­ powerful Macuata politician Militoni ity for the national carrier Air Pacific, Leweniqila, the prime minister's uncle. and then overruled Minister for Infra­ Leweniqila was brought back into cab­ structure and Public Works Leo inet later in the year, along with Filipe Smith's decision to sack for incompe­ Bole, the defeated SVT candidate for tence Ilaisa Senimoli, an ethnic Fijian, Lau, who was subsequently rewarded as director general of the Ports Author­ with a seat on the senate and from ity of Fiji. These developments, which there inducted into the cabinet as followed the GVP'S well-publicized minister for foreign affairs. Kubuabola policy differences with the sVT-the became a thorn in Rabuka's side. GVP opposed the Sunday ban, the Seri­ Among other things, he revealed ous Fraud Bill, and (silently) the trans­ embarrassing details of the prime min­ fer of state land to the Native Land ister's tryst with a Fijian journalist in Trust Board-disenchanted many an effort to force him to resign from party supporters. "No one is taking office. Rabuka refused, and the parlia­ the party seriously any more because mentary caucus of the SVT endorsed his of the way we are being treated," said decision after being told that the prime one party founder. "It's becoming a minister had confessed the incident to joke" (TR, Dec 1994). How the GVP his wife and his pastor. Still, Rabuka's negotiates its relationship with its personal reputation, as a moral leader Fijian coalition partner will bear and lay Methodist preacher, suffered a watching. setback. Many also questioned his Rabuka's relationship with the judgment about appointing the contro­ opposition NFP and FLP was equally versial millionaire businessman and turbulent. Early in the year, he hinted close personal friend Jim Ah Koy, one in parliament at the possibility of a of the two Fijian members from third and possibly more violent coup if Kadavu, to the important Trade and Indo-Fijians continued to oppose his Industry portfolio and empowering political agenda, which led both him with full responsibility for all gov­ parties to stage a two-day boycott of ernment-owned companies, corpora­ parliament. Then came cabinet's deci­ tions, and statutory authorities. Ah sion to abolish Diwali and Prophet Koy, many said, was the real power Mohammed's birthdays as national behind the Rabuka throne. holidays and to replace them with a Among those dissatisfied with the single holidaY-14 May, the date of cabinet reshuffles and the manner of both the first coup and the arrival of Rabuka's intervention in other minis­ Indian indentured laborers in Fiji. The ters' portfolios was the General Voters decision was rescinded only after wide­ Party (GVP). Not only was their num- spread protest by Hindus, Muslims, ".' POLITICAL REVIEWS 357 and Christians alike, creating skepti­ F$9 million was granted to the army, cism in the general public about the and in September 1994, another F$9 government's commitment to multicul­ million was appropriated from addi­ turalism. Provoked by these actions, tional provisions for military emolu­ the NFP and FLP downplayed their dif­ ments and allowances (TR, Dec ferences and began cooperating on 1994)· issues critical to their constituencies. In contrast, the police force was On the Fijian side, too, Rabuka's allocated only Fh3.8 million for its opponents began exploring the pos­ recurrent expenditure. Police Commis­ sibility of joining hands. A series of sioner Isikia Savua had asked for more meetings took place between the Fijian than F$30 million to equip the force Association Party and the All Nation­ with more personnel, vehicles, and als Congress, now headed by Adi sophisticated communications systems Kuini Bavadra (TR, Oct 1994). What­ to combat crime. He wanted the police ever the outcomes of these talks, the 'to become more visible in the commu­ truth remains that the difference nity. To boost morale, he also pro­ between Rabuka and his Fijian oppo­ posed better insurance cover for nents is not one of substance, for they them (FT, 22 Dec 1994). The govern­ all agree on the principle of Fijian ment's reluctance to commit more paramountcy, but one of degree. They resources to the police dismayed all want Indo-Fijian participation in many, especially because there was a government; none of them wants full marked increase in crime during the partnership. year. By October, only 5,27° of the Speculation that Rabuka's oppo­ 16,257 crimes reported to police had nents in parliament might once again been solved. Murder and attempted use the budget debate to defeat the murder recorded the highest percent­ government proved unfounded as age increase, followed by rape or Finance Minister Berenado Vunibobo attempted rape, robbery with violence, presented what he called a "mild and drug-related crimes, serious assault, affordable budget" (SSD, 2 Dec 1994) fraud offenses, theft and burglary, and with a net deficit estimated at US$43.6 house break-ins (FT, 8 Dec 1994). Per­ million, or 2.5 percent of the gross haps even more disturbing than the domestic product. Expenditure was increase in the number of crimes, is the estimated at US$582.7 million, and occurrence of violent crimes in rural revenue at US$487.8 million. Excise areas by urban youth, mainly young duty was increased on alcoholic bever­ Fijian men. The government wants to ages, tobacco, and all types of motor strengthen rural Fijian cultural institu­ vehicles and motor fuel. The opposi­ tions to stem the flow of Fijian youth tion questioned the government's to urban areas. It has even talked of expenditure priorities, in particular the resurrecting the old Fijian court system allocation of F$ 38 million to the Fiji to deal with Fijian criminals. Whether Military Forces, which have had a any of these initiatives will bear fruit consistent history of overspending. remains to be seen, but crime, and all In 1993, for example, an unapproved the problems associated with it, is WW'9+wa#Ei$!YJiiki! $@@it",I.IUP;dldpS ;;;'''.';89 ;;;g 358 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· FALL 1995 increasingly becoming a depressing penter Group of Companies. Mem­ feature of life in Fiji (TR, Nov 1994). bers of the Fiji Trade and Investment Rabuka received mixed reviews on Board visited Thailand, Singapore, and the domestic front.