Fiji By-Elections
pp. 30-135 · Read in the full issue
Background To The
From a special correspondent in Suva The by-elections for nine vacant Indian seats in the Fiji Legislative Council, being held in Fiji in the first week of Sep tember, have been brought about by the walkout of the nine members of the Opposition in the Council at the end of last year. The Opposition walked out in protest against Fiji’s new Constitution, which came into effect in 1966.
The constitution was framed at a conference in London in July, 1965, attended by all the elected members of the old Legislative Council (Fiji, Indian, European), plus the Governor and some high UK officials.
The conference decided that the new council should be elected on communal rolls—lndian, Fijian and General—with other rolls for cross voting across all communities; but a vocal section of the Indians, the Federation Party, demanded a common roll.
A common roll, of course, would have given the Indians now the largest community in Fiji, political control of the Crown colony, now emerging into independent statehood.
It was rejected emphatically by the Fijian, European, Chinese and mixed race communities, and by an in fluential section of the Indians.
After the general election in
October, 1966, the new council com prised: Ex-Officio Members (3 European; 1 Fijian) Fijians (9 on communal roll, 3 from cross-voting roll, 2 nom. by Council of Chiefs) . .. 1 Indians (9 from communal roll, 3 from cross-voting roll) 1 Europeans (6 from general roll, 3 from cross-voting roll) Chinese (1 from general roll) Total membership 4 The Indian Federation Party woi all the nine Indian Community scab with the following majorities: Suva 2,89 Tailevu-Rewa 2,54 S. Central Viti Levu 2,73 SW Viti Levu 3,57 W. Viti Levu 4,09 NW Viti Levu 29 NE Viti Levu 1,84 North and East 1,09 NE Vanua Levu 2,55 An analysis of the official return of that Indian Communal electio showed: Votes for official Federation candidates 43,17 Votes for other candidates, generally anti-Federation . . . . 22,63 Total valid votes cast in this (Indian) section of the general election 65,7C This meant that about 65 per cen of the Indian voters supported th Federation Party; about 35 per cen voted for non-Federation candidate
Racial bitterness
The nine Indian Federation Pari members took their seats in the ne council as the official Oppositioi They would not associate with th other three elected Indians. Th latter, with all the members repn senting other races, had groupe themselves as the Alliance and b< came the Government Party, heade by Ratu K. K. T. Mara.
After a number of sittings, dm ing which they showed increasin opposition and racial bitterness, th nine Federation Indians walked ou
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They announced they would fight outside the council for anew Con stitution, a common roll, removal of British control and European dominance, and early self-government and independence. They appealed to the United Nations, and demanded that a UN committee be allowed to come and assess the situation.
They rejected a Government appeal for them to return to the council.
Their seats were then declared vacant and this by-election for the nine seats (within the Indian community only) is being taken.
The Alliance Party organisers claim they will now cut down the Federation Party vote, and even win one or two seats. But neutral observers expect that the Federal Party will retain all nine seats.
Valuable help
The non-Federation Indians mostly educated men—are giving the Alliance valuable help; but although the Alliance Government now stands high in public esteem (Ratu Mara has done an excellent job as Chief Minister), the party finds it difficult to reach the majority of the semi literate Indians from whom the Federation gets its major support.
These people are shut off by the barriers of language and ignorance.
They accept the Federation speakers’ promises, such as, easier access to Fiji-owned lands; a review of the Constitution, and introduction of the
common roll: the end of European domination of the council, to be followed by the ousting of the British control of the government, and in dependence; a challenge to the “power” of the Australian corpora tions now operating in Fiji; a bigger and better life for Fiji’s 250,000 Indians.
Re-election
Most of what is practicable in this is already in the policies being activated by Ratu Mara’s administra tion.
The re-election of the Indian Opposition (one of the nine has since resigned from the Federation Party and will be an Alliance candidate) may not take the political situation in Fiji any further.
It would mean that 60 per cent, of the Indian vote had gone to the Federation, but on the last election figures it appears that practically the whole of the remainder of Fiji’s multi-racial population supports the present government, which in any case would not be changed.
And the question is, if the Federa tion Party members get back, what can they do other than a further boycott and a further trial of strength?
Fiji just now. superficially, appears to be prosperous. The colony is packed with tourists, and their money spreads to many places.
If the Alliance Government can get an overall 35 to 40 per cent, of this by-election vote, the politico economic situation can be regarded as safe.