Division among Fijians

THE official swearing in of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara on January 18 as the President of Fiji came in the midst of a very interesting time in Fiji politics. Ratu Sir Kamisese, who succeeds the late Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs on January 12. The chiefs’ decision was unanimous. There was no other nominee.

On the day Ratu Mara was sworn in the Fiji Times carried a story about his son Ratu Finau leaving the chiefs backed political party the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT) to join the newly formed Fijian Association.

Ratu Finau’s move underlines the split among Fijians as a result of serious differences over the way the govern ment is being run.

The party leader is former Finance Minister Josevata Kamikamica who is seen as a potential threat to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s position.

The backbone of the new party is the seven SVT government parliamen tarians who were expelled after voting

against the 1994 budget.

The Fijian Association say the SVT is falling apart and has lost the support of the grassroot Fijians. Government criticised the Fijian Association mani festo saying it presented nothing new to

the indigenous Fijians.

Information Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola accused the Fijian Associ ation of copying the 1992 SVT mani festo. Kubuabola said that the new party’s main policy is based on the hatred of fact that Rabuka defeated him in a leadership vote after the last

general elections.

Kubuabola said Kamikamica’s party was entirely to blame for forcing another general election on the people of Fiji adding that they were the main cause of the division among the Fijians.

The war of words between the two

sides has been bitter driving the wedge deeper between the two sides. Al

though two other parties challenge for

Fijian seats, this split has basically

divided the mainstay of government for the Fijians.

Kamikamica said the re-birth of the Fijian association was to salvage the

honour and reputation of Fijian politi

cal leadership. However, as the Fiji Times points out, it seems logical to ask how the desirable goal of national unity can be achieved if the Fijians themselves are not united politically.

Certainly the voters will be confused as campaigns hit them from all sides.

It is still too soon to say if the Fijian Association will have the strength to run lead government but if they win seats complications may arise as the formation government will rely on an interesting coalition combination.

The second largest racial group, the Indians, showed at the last polls they were divided with 13 seats of their 27 seats going to the Fiji Labour Party and 14 to the National Federation Party. This divided is again apparent as the February election looms.

The division is worrying as it could lead to an unstable coalition govern ment.

Time will tell. D

Mara: new President