Fiji to form caretaker Government

Press, 23 September 1987, Page 1

Fiji to form caretaker Government

NZPA-AAP Suva Fiji’s rival political parties yesterday agreed in principle on the formation of a bipartisan caretaker Government. The “major breakthrough” in talks to resolve Fiji’s post-coup crisis was announced in a joint statement by the Alliance and Coalition parties.

The meeting, the fourth in a series, centred on a review of the Constitution and the formation of a caretaker Government, the statement said. “It was agreed in principle that a bipartisan caretaker Government would be established.” AAP reports that the caretaker Government could be in place as early as next week. The Gover-nor-General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, said he would hold daily meetings this week with the aim of forming “a power-sharing Government” by the beginning of next week. The statement said the aims of the bipartisan Government would be: • To guide the country to a solution to Fiji’s constitutional problems. • To re-establish Fiji’s respect for law and order. • To put the nation’s economy back on a firm footing. Yesterday’s meeting at Pacific Harbour, sj) 'kilometres west of Suva, also agreed on the terms of referenced for a review of the Constitution. Dr Timoci Bavadra’s Coalition, whose month-old Indian-majority Government was deposed in the May 14 coup d’etat, have said the 1970 Constitution* adequately protects Fijian

rights. But the Fijian Great Council of Chiefs and some other ethnic Fijian leaders believe changes are needed to ensure that their race controls future parliaments. Yesterday’s meeting agreed that the terms of reference for a constitutional review should be to make proposals for a permanent solution "acceptable to the people of Fiji” and in particular: • To make arrangements foran early return to full parliamentary democracy: Ratu Sir Ganilau has governed the country with a council of advisers since soon after the coup. •To take full account of indigenous Fijians’ aspirations for the betterment of their constitutional, economic and social interests. • To provide a framework for “a multi-racial society in which the rights and interests of all the communities are safeguarded, thereby laying a foundation for just and harmonious relations between all communities.” The two parties’ six-man delegations said due regard would be given to the reports of the recent constitutional review committee, which took more than 1000 submissions at hearings throughout Fiji.

The review will be conducted by three members of the Alliance party and three members of the Coalition party. Ratu Sir Penaia, at the beginning of yesterday’s meeting issued an ultimatum to Fiji’s political leaders to either compromise on a solution to the country’s constitutional crisis or face the restoration of the military regime which overthrew the Bavadra Government on May 14. He said that his only other alternative was to institute a solution and promulgate it, with or without their approval. A source at the meeting said Ratu Sir Penaia warned the two parties that he would either recall the coup leader, Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, to power or enforce his own solution if no compromise was reached by the end of the day. Political observers said yesterday’s announcement was certain to be welcomed by almost all the population as a way out of the nation’s economic plight after the coup. The reaction of the militant Fijian Taukei movement is unknown. The ..Taukei has opposed any concessions to the Coalition or to the 48 per cent Indian population