unity government

Fiji

Rabuka proposes

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka stunned parliament on ‘December 4 by offering to facilitate the formation of a government of national unity. While speaking on the country’s recent budget, Rabuka unexpectedly made an emotional

appeal to the Opposition two Indian political parties, an extreme indi genous Fijian nationalist group, and an indepen dent to cross from Opposition to join the government. • At present there are no ethnic Indians on the government side, al though they form nearly half the population. Ra buka specifically named all the parties on the other side of the House of Representatives and

asked them to “walk across and form a government of national unity”. \ Early reports said Opposition groupings were meeting to discuss the offer. Rabuka’s offer came after PIM reported a group was working to undermine his leadership.

The Fiji Labour Party’s parliamentary leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, argued in favour of a government of national unity as the “only way forward for Fiji”. He told parliament long term stability and security could not be cleared by denying political rights to a large segment of government. Chaudhry said one could not exclude half the population from the decision making process under any democratic system of government.

He said Fiji’s long term future could only be served under a power sharing process. Chaudhry also urged government not to drag the constitutional review process and politicise it too much since both sides of the House had agreed on the need for a review. He pointed out that since indigenous Fijian land rights and other vital interests were entrenched, Fijian leaders should “adopt a more conciliatory attitude” towards other races. ***

President

returns

Fiji’s President, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, has returned from three months medical treatment in the United States. Ratu Sir Penaia was rushed to Washington in September on a US military aircraft for intensive care treatment at the Walter Reed Medical Centre.

The 74-year-old President is now confined to a wheelchair after a viral infection caused partial loss of the use of his limbs.

The infection came on top of a blood disease.

Ganilau was flown to Fiji on a private jet provided by American multi-millionaire Malcolm Forbes Jnr, who owns an island in Fiji. During the President’s absence, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was acting President.

Rabuka: stunned parliament