new government

Trying time for new government

The Coalition Govern ment of the trade union backed Labour Party and the Indian-backed Na tional Federation Party in Fiji is going through a trying and testing period.

The new Government was elected to office on April 13 after defeating the Alliance Party of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in Fiji’s fifth election after independence from Britain in 1970. It is headed by Dr Timoci Bavadra, the leader of the Labour Party and his Deputy is Mr Harish Sharma, the leader of the National Federation Party. In the Cabinet there are seven Indians, six Fijians and two part Europeans. And of the 28 members of the Coalition who were elected to the 52 member parliament there are 19 Indians, seven Fijians and two part Europeans.

When the results were announced that the Alliance Party was defeated after its 17 years of rule by 28 seats to 24 the former Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and one of his Deputies Ratu David Toga nivalu, who also lost his seat, accepted the verdict gracefully and with humility. However, the results did not go down well with some sections of the Fijian community . . . they saw the result as a domination by In dians.

Firstly there were road blocks mounted on one of the main trunk roads in the Western Division. However, it was con fined to the town of Tavua and the road blocks were removed after police intervened but no arrests were made. The organ isers of the road blocks said they were protesting against the Coalition government and were not prepared to accept Dr Timoci Bavadra as Prime Minis ter because he was not a high chief.

Later a meeting was held in

Suva and a bigger meeting at the village of Veiseisei where it was resolved that protest marches be staged at various centres around the country culminating in a petition being presented to the Governor General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau.

Friday April 24 was set as the date for the big march in the capital Suva. Among the organisers of the march were some of the Alliance parliamentarians such Mr Apisai Tora, a Cabinet Minister in the previous government, an Alliance Senator Mr Jona Qio, Senator Inoke Tabua and Mr Viliame Gonelevu.

However, the Alliance Party has dissociated itself from the P r °* est Organisers said it was a protest by concerned indigenous Fijians who were seeking guaranteed special status and rights in their country.

Tension mounted in the country as the day Friday approached. The march was timed for 10 in the morning. At the Veiseisei meeting which was

attended by some three thousand Fijians, concern and fear was expressed that the Indians were running the Govemment with a Fijian as a figure head. Addressing the meeting the chairman Mr Apisai Tora said Mr Jai Ram Reddy was the real Prime Minister and Dr.

Bavadra his shield.

Mr Reddy, who did not contest the election but had masterminded the whole strategy of the Coalition during the election campaign, has been appointed a Senator and given a Cabinet portfolio as the Minister for Justice and Attorney General. Five years ago in the 1982 general election Mr Reddy was the Leader of the Opposition and had fought the election against the Alliance. He remained as the Leader till 1984 when he resigned his seat after differences with the Speaker of House, Mr Tomasi Vakatora, and vowed not to return till Mr Vakatora was not in chair. As Attorney General Mr Reddy will sit in both houses. Mr Reddy was de-

scribed as the guru by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mata during the elec tion campaign. Mr Tora also claimed that Dr. Bavadra was a ‘prisoner’ in Cabinet, Electors. He alleged that the key portfolios of Finance, Jus tice, Foreign Affairs and Trade were all held by Indians. The meeting resolved that the Con stitution be changed to ensure that the Fijians always ruled the country, The Veiseisei meeting was held on Tuesday and the march was to be held on Friday, Tension and anxiety mounted among the people and specially among the Indians. The Gov emor-General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau and the former Gov ernor-General the Vunivalu Ratu Sir George Cakobau issued statements urging the marchers to uphold the rule of law and respect the people’s choice of new government.

They said no amount of good could come out of unlawful acts or actions that were designed to destablise the Coalition Gov emment.

Govenor-General of Fiji, Ratu Sir Penala Ganilau, (left) swears In new Prime Minister Dr Timoci Bavadra, Suva, April 1987.

Some 10,000 Fijians were expected to take part but about only half the number marched through the streets of Suva carrying placards denouncing the new government. However the demonstration was peaceful and marches proceeded in an orderly manner to Albert Park.

There was heavy police pre sence and more than 100 had lined the streets. A fully pre pared and equipped riot squad was on stand-by and the army was also on full alert. However, much to the credit of the march organisers it was uneventful.

At the end of the march, the demonstrators handed a petition to the Governor-Gen eral which had 23,000 signa tures. They are asking: 1. That they do not accept the Coalition because they did not vote for it. 2. That the Constitution be changed to guarantee them the control of the Government.

The Governor-General promised to hold discussions with the Prime Minister, Dr.

Timoci Bavadra, and the leader of the Opposition, Ratu Sir

Kamisese Mara, on the views expressed in the petition.

Another march was being planned for the opening of Parliament. However the new government has consolidated its position and the ‘movement’ against the government has lost much of its appeal with a number of other Fijians ex pressing support for the Coali tion and urging others to give it a chance to govern as the legally elected government.

Dr Bavadra also asserted his authority as the leader in con trol. The new Government also

won support from two promin ent Fijian backed political groups ... the Western United Front headed by Ratu Osea Gavidi and the Fijian Nationalist Party led by Mr Sakeasi Butad roka. They urged their followers to accept the new Government because that was the choice of the people. The next big test for the new Government will be when the new House meets for its first session. Based on pre sent indications and its creditable performance so far it should fare well. From our Suva Correspondent.