Beyond the

Editorial

Beyond the constitution

As Fiji's political leaders pat themselves on the back amid the jubilation, celebration and international congratulation over the country's new constitution. there remains the sobering realisation that the constitution is merely the means to an

end. To truly turn Fiji from a grouping of race-bound communities into a liberated and democratic society free from discrimination requires genuine commitment from the peo ple without which the document will be just that - a piece of paper.

As yet, there has been little evidence of national unity overriding racial concerns.

And, if the country's leaders are to lead by example, the future seems even more desper ate. Their actions, so far, have been a far cry from their grandiloquence.

Take the concept of a multiparty govern ment provided for in the 1997 constitution, for instance. Despite warnings, most recent ly sounded by University of Hong Kong's Professor Yash Ghai, that a multiparty gov ernment could greatly reduce the voice of opposition, party leaders actively pursued moves to this end. Opposition leader Jai Ram Reddy has stressed the importance of the "rapport and good working relationship" he has built with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his intention to continue work

ing in “close cooperation”. While some may view cooperation and opposition to be a con tradiction in terms, more dubious are the race

relations Reddy prides himself on having

improved. (Some critics have accused Rabuka and Reddy of merely brokering a communal-based compromise in a bid to protect their positions.) But. as far as race relations went, it did seem a major breakthrough when Rabuka announced his SVT party had opened up membership to all races. The SVT had until then been the indigenous Fijian party and a product of the 1987 coups. But, when Reddy deferred accepting the PM's offer to join a multiparty cabinet in July, Rabuka turned to

the Fijian Association Party, relegating to

rumour and rhetoric reports of multiracial ism. Rabuka said the SVT was concerned with the unity of the Fijian people - ahead of national unity.

Just how much of what Fiji's leaders say comes with the stamp of sincerity?

When talking to Pacific Islands Monthly , Rabuka claimed the new constitution required no sacrifices from any community.

But in an earlier interview with The Fiji Times , the PM had said, “We have lost some things we would have loved to retain but, on the other hand, so did everybody else.”

"Some things” happened to be the numbers game in Fijian seats. Fiji Labour Party par liamentary leader Mahendra Chaudhry nursed a similar grievance, for which he was chastised in parliament in no uncertain terms. Chaudhry’s critics accused him of try ing to derail the constitution process when he claimed Indians were being cheated out of their fair share of seats. Perhaps Chaudhry was being pedantic in arguing for a single seat and perhaps his motion deserved to be defeated. But the incident served to illustrate two things. The first w'as that the issue of race is still very much alive and at play.

And secondly, that the democracy and freedom of speech enshrined in the 1997 constitution were ignored by its proponents as parliamentary debate degenerated into attacks against the man and not the motion.

The reality of the situation suggests that there are, after all, more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in the new constitu tion. And Fiji cannot breathe easy just yet. ■