Fiji normalcy the message

Press, 16 November 1987, Page 6

Fiji normalcy the message

By

JAMES SHRIMPTON

NZPA-AAP Suva

Fiji’s Foreign Minister, Filipe Bole, would assure his counterparts in Australia and New Zealand this week that his country was rapidly returning to normal, informed sources said yesterday. As proof, he was expected to advise them that the former Governor-Gen-eral, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, had agreed to become the Fiji Republic’s first President.

Brigadier Sitiveni Rabuka was likely to step down as Head of Government in favour of the former Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who led the nation for 16*4 years from independence in 1970. Brigadier. Rabuka said yesterday he hoped to announce the new appointments “shortly,” after certain formalities had been finalised - the expected date is Thursday.

Acceptance by these two men, Fiji’s welder statesmen, of the Republic

and its forthcoming constitution was seen in Fiji as having a vital influence on the prospects for international recognition of the new order.

To back this up, Mr Bole would advise Australian and New Zealand Foreign Ministers, Messrs Hayden and Marshall, , that military rule would formally end when Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara took over as head of Government.

The overnight curfew in force since the second coup on September 25 had been lifted, military checkpoints on the roads had disappeared, and soldiers were returning to the barracks, where their numbers would be reduced to pre-coup levels. Fiji would be ruled by a 22-member Council of Ministers, appointed after a Republic was proclaimed on October 7, until fresh elections about next October.

While Fiji’s economy had been hard hit by the coups and two devaluations, plus suspension of aid bv Australia and New

Zealand, the two main industries, sugar and tourism, were showing signs of recovery. All 1987 sugar export commitments would be met, and the only cloud in the outlook for next year was a continuing drought which was affecting planting.

Fiji’s international carrier, Air Pacific, which was managed by Qantas, had announced further initiatives to lure back tourists to the island nation once billed as “the way the world should be.” Tourists were not affected by either the curfew or restrictions introduced on Sunday activities, but bans threatened by Australian and New Zealand unions resulted in many cancellations after the second coup. Devaluation had meant tourists get more Fiji currency for their dollars, but for local people it had meant stiff increases in the price of imported goods, including petrol.

Mr Bole has said he expected to be questioned in AMtralia and New Zea-

land about the country’s new constitution: :which would guarantee indigenous Fijian rights including a majority in Parliament.

The minister said Messrs Hayden and Marshall could be "pleasantly surprised” at the freedoms ensured by the new order.

Mr Bole is due in Sydney this evening and will confer in Canberra the next day with Mr Hayden.

The Australian Foreign Affairs Department has emphasised the meeting in no way should be seen as tacit recognition by Australia of the Rabuka regime. New Zealand held the same view.

Mr Hayden has said the discussions would., be informal and low-key, with the minimum of publicity. Mr Bole will fly to Wellington on Wednesday for talks with Mr Marshall the next morning, just hours before Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke is due there e® an official visit. f w