An open

Letters To The Editor

letter to the

author

Madam, I am writing this letter to bring your attention to the false statements made about me in Marjorie Crocombe’s article “Polynesia: Women in Politics” in the book New Politics in the South Pacific published in 1994.

In the section on Fiji, on page 195, she has stated as follows: “The lack of Indian women in Fiji Parliament is becoming an issue with that politically disadvantaged section of the community. Deputy leader of their National Federation Party and one of its longest serving MPs was Mrs Irene Jai Narayan until 1987. After the military coup that year, she changed sides and joined the military-backed government, which appointed her as minister for Indian Affairs. She is the only Indian woman to succeed in politics so far.”

It is a false statement that I was deputy leader of the National Federation Party until 1987. The fact is that I was not the deputy leader of the National Federation Party in 1987.1 was not even a member of the National Federation Party in 1987.

The fact is that I had resigned from the NFP in December 1985. After being an independent member in the House of Representatives for almost a year, I had joined the Alliance Party headed by the Rt Hon Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara well before the coups took place in 1987.

What Ms Crocombe has written clearly

implies that after the coup, I immediately deserted National Federation Party, even though I was their deputy leader, in order to become a minister in the military backed government.

I am greatly saddened to read what has been written about me. Had she researched properly and established the facts before writing, she would not have made the false statements damaging my reputation and

integrity.

Ms Crocombe, is there a way to set the record straight, without my having to take legal action? I shall await your reply.

Irene Jai Norayan,

Suva, Fiji

Peace and

Goodwill

on Earth

Madam, Alarm! Alarm! Peace Psychosis is now

spreading throughout the planet and the

general population is succumbing to it.

Politicians and nuclear scientists are resisting it greatly. China and India, in fact all budding members of the Nuclear Club, are feeling the strain and it is with great sorrow that France has had to announce that its nuclear policy in the South Pacific has definitely been brought to a halt.

Armament manufacturers world-wide are being immunised against the Peace germ as they are particularly susceptible to it. A new school of psychiatry has been formu lated on the theory that Peace Psychosis is

initially caused by intense feelings of Love and Goodwill. These feelings, if not con trolled, may result in the individual har bouring a sense of Peace towards his brothers and sisters throughout the planet.

Psychiatrists are concerned that waves of Peace could spread throughout Earth, resulting in a general decline of ill-will.

Martin Leo,

Auckland, New Zealand