Tamkei movememt seeks image change

Press, 24 February 1988, Page 29

Tamkei movememt seeks image change

By

JAMES SHRIMPTON

NZPA-AAP Suva The Taukei movement is working to replace its “militant” image with one of respectability, says a spokesman, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. He was commenting on a 15-point “declaration of beliefs”, including one in multi-culturalism, issued recently. The Taukei (literally land-owners) movement emerged last year after the election of Fiji’s first Indian-majority Government. Indians slightly outnumber ethnic Fijians in the 715,000 population. Fearing that indigenous Fijians’ land and rights were under threat from the new Administration, it led protest marches that were followed by military intervention in the first coup of last May 14. Later last year, some Taukei elements were identified with arson and other attacks on the Indian community and the movement split after the coup leader, BrigadierGeneral, Sitiveni Rabuka, handed power back to a civilian-led Government in December. There were the moderates such as the

former members of Parliament, Apisai Tora and Taniela Veitata, who accepted Ministries in the interim Government of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. On the other hand were the more extreme elements who have become increasingly critical of the government’s failure to speedily implement a new constitution as approved by the Great Council of Chiefs last July, guaranteeing Fijian supremacy in future Parliaments.

Suva, a great rumour mill since the last election, has been buzzing in recent weeks with predictions of another coup to oust the President, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, and install yet another administration that would expedite realisation of the Taukei aims. Last month, three men went to Radio Fiji’s Suva studios and demanded air time to announce that they were taking over the country.

The case is before the courts and details of the alleged plot have never been reported.

Ratu Inoke said that the Taukei executive, in moving to create a respectable image, had decided

on two main objectives. They were to work towards a new constitution with the changes the movement favours, and, significantly, support for Brigadier-General Rabuka and the Government’s efforts to stabilise the economy.

The Prime Minister has been giving priority to the nation’s economic recovery from a post-coup nosedive, with presidential decrees in force pending the new constitution which may not go before the Great Council ol Chiefs for approval until mid-year. The Taukei movement said that the Government’s priorities had led to allegations that the movement was not concerned with the economy which the executive’s statement was designed tc rebut. The Taukei’s declaration of beliefs says that Fiji should be governed under Christian principles and the Fijian people’s

interests must be of prime importance at all times. “We believe in parliamentary democracy where the spirit of free people must prevail and where the leadership of the indigenous people in their country is guaranteed,” it said. But political stability would depend on the tolerance and understanding of all the nation’s peoples towards the indigenes. Positions in important areas of activity such as the Public Service and education (where Indians have dominated) must be evenly distributed. But the Government must provide opportunities “for all the people to advance to their full potential.” The movement said, “We believe in multi-cul-turalism, with protection for all minorities.” It believed in the fundamental freedoms, “To think, to worship, to speak, to choose, to be independent.”