Loyal subject seeks Royal protection for Fijian Indians

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 21

Loyal subject seeks Royal protection for Fijian Indians

By

GARRY ARTHUR

He does not want to be thought eccentric, but Ishwarlal Kapadia has a deep, an almost touching, faith and confidence in the Crown. Not so much in Her Majesty’s British Government, but in Her Majesty herself, Queen Elizabeth II of England — more importantly, of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Mr Kapadia believes that only the Queen can protect the Indians of Fiji, and he has written seeking her help. Through her, he hopes Indians can put pressure on the British Government to "make them conscious of their ethical responsibilities towards the Indian people.” “Ministers change,” he says, “but the monarchy does not change. We regard the monarchy as the ground itself.” Mr Kapadia has been writing to this monarch since 1981. His latest letter, written on November 23, reminds the Queen that Fiji was granted independence "despite my specific appeal to the contrary.” He says events have proved that his apprehensions about independence were realistic. “I have inherited and treasured the relationship with my Sovereign and the Crown ever since Queen Victoria became the Empress of India,” he writes. “The severance of this link from the Crown by the Ministry leadership in the name of the people of Fiji will revert Fiji back to the law of the club.”

He says that “in anticipation of this brutality” he is staying in Christchurch with his son on a visa that terminates on April 5 next year. He tells the Queen

that in view of his visualisation of the events that have unfolded, and his opposition to independence in the first place, he feels entitled to Her Majesty’s protection and help in getting permanent residence in New Zealand.

“No-one among my family members were elated in Fiji becoming independent,” says his letter, “and we would not like us to be thrown back to Fiji to face the military rule or any such undemocratic administration discriminating against us on the ground of race.”

Mr Kapadia says it was Fijian Indians who were at the forefront in bringing about independence from the Crown. When their leader, Mr A. D. Patel, started agitating for Fijian independence in the 19605, the majority of Fijians were frightened. “They were brainwashed that the Indians were up to some trick and wanted to take over Fiji,” he says.

Later, Ratu Mara could see that it would have advantages for the upper strata of Fijians, and they would benefit. Patel’s initiative was approved by the Fijians, and independence came in the 1970 s after Patel died.

Mr Kapadia recalls that in 1969 the British Government sent

Mrs Irene White, M.P., to Fiji to assess public opinion about independence. “Some Indians, including me, thought it premature,” he says. “I was secretary of the Suva Retailers’ Association, and I prepared our submission to Mrs White saying that our interests were best served by direct U.K. rule and that we did not want independence until the Fijians pressed hard for it. Then we would come up with a formula.” Mr Kapadia thinks the Indians were wrong to take the initiative. “My view is that it should have been the Fijians seeking an independent country,” he says, "just as with the Kanaks in New Caledonia. I felt that the Indians should not press for independence until the Fijians were ready.

“Then the Indians could have put forward their own safeguards to the British Government as part of the terms for independence, and these present problems could have been avoided. But Patel said that whether independence was wanted or not, it was on the doorstep. In those days, the last Governor of Fiji was also convinced that independence was coming. “The British Government said independence was the proper course, and at the constitutional conference the Indian group dropped Patel’s pre-condition of only accepting a common electoral roll. They accepted a clause in the constitution that had a communal electoral roll based

on race, and allowing for a Royal Commission to come to Fiji and recommend changes. The Fijian Government was not duty-bound to accept any changes, and it did not. The Constitution was put into effect in 1970.”

Mr Kapadia was elected a Suva city councillor in 1979 on the opposition ticket, but says he adopted a neutral stance which gave him the support of both political parties.

He wrote to the Queen when he retired in 1981, telling her that he saw a situation emerging that he was unhappy about and seeking her help in being allowed to settle in New Zealand.

"I cannot divorce myself from British protection,” he says. “From Queen Victoria on, we Indians have felt ourselves loyal subjects of the Crown.” In another letter to the Queen in January, 1983, Mr Kapadia pointed out the irony of having been awarded the Fiji Independence Medal, which he was wearing when he was presented to the Queen during her visit to Fiji.

He asked the Queen for a letter or testimonial which would enable him and his family to settle'in Australia or New Zealand. The Queen replied through her secretary that she was sorry Mr Kapadia no longer felt happy about staying in Fiji, but she was unable to help personally.

Mr Kapadia was in Christchurch visiting his son when the last Fijian election was held. He did not like the result, which transferred political power to Dr Timoci Bavadra’s Coalition Government.

“It made me upset,” he says, “because I was of the opinion that while the Alliance Government was in power there was more law and order.”

It was when he returned to Fiji that the military took over, and after a month he returned to New Zealand.

Mr Kapadia says he understands the elements of human nature behind the military coup,

but says the result is that Fijian Indians now feel that they have no incentive to work for the benefit of the country. “I’m totally unbiased,” he says. “I do not speak ill of the military or the Alliance — but I had reservations about independence from the beginning.” He is now busy writing his memoirs of events leading up to the military take-over. “It will be a comprehensive account of the background to the coup, and how to get out of it,” he says. “I cling to one hope, and that is Her Majesty the Queen. It was the British Government which brought our forefathers to Fiji.”

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