Plea for democracy

Press, 20 May 1987, Page 1

Plea for democracy

A hastily written message printed in chalk on a school blackboard underlined the reasons for yesterday evening’s meeting of Christchurch’s Fijian community. “May God Bless Fiji,” someone had written. It was a plea echoed throughout the public meeting called by the Christchurch Fiji Association and attended by more than 50 Fijian Indians, ethnic Fijians and New Zealanders. As the news unfolded in Suva and Nandi, the meeting at the Bromley Community Hall condemned, accused, and pleaded for an immediate return to democracy in Fiji. Students, shopkeepers,, academics, trades unionists, and ex-, patriate Fijians spoke of their distress and anxiety about the events of the last week — the families who remained in Fiji

and the future of a country once advertised as the way the world should be. “I can only praise God that Rabuka has made Fijians wake up and face realities,” one woman said. Two members of Parliament, Mrs Margaret Austin and Mr Jim Anderton, expressed the New Zealand Government’s support for the Labour Government led by Dr Timoci Bavadra which was ousted last week by the military coup. Mrs Austin praised the actions of the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, and roundly condemned the leaders of the coup. “My only concern is that democracy will only be restored to Fiji when the Bavadra Government is restored to office immediately rather than calling another General Election,” Mr Anderton said.