Fiji Constitution may be back

Fiji8217;s elected Government, led by its first ethnic Indian Premier Mahendra Chaudhry, has been held hostage in Parliament since May 19 when Speight staged a coup in the name of indigenous Fijians. The military assumed control of the country ten days later and declared martial law but has so far been unable to persuade Speight to release the 31 hostages. One of Speight8217;s key demands has been the replacement of the 1997 constitution, which guarantees all races equal access to power, by one which ensures that key positions will remain in the hands of indigenous Fijians, who make up 51 per cent of the population. Ethnic Indians who are the descendants of workers imported by Britain in the 19th century to work in sugar plantations comprise around 43 per cent of Fiji8217;s population.

Soon after Tarakinikini spoke, a Commonwealth delegation led by Australian and New Zealand Foreign Ministers Alexander Downer and Phil Goff, arrived here. Tarakinikini said they aimed to convince the delegation that the martial law Government was aiming to achieve a just and fair government under the Harare Declaration. 8220;We are committed to it and we will ensure we will get to it. We also want to put to the Commonwealth Action Group that Fiji, as a country, is genuinely trying to fulfill its international obligations and not just paying lip-service to it.8221; It was put to Tarakinikini that nothing in the last month proposed by the Speight group or imposed by martial law complied with the Harare Declaration.

He agreed on that but said they would return to it. Asked if this meant a return to the 1997 constitution, he replied, 8220;We8217;ve never said otherwise8230; with some review of course, in order to address the aspirations that are being raised by this uprising that led to this coup. Whether we use the 8217;97 constitution as the framework on which to build or the 1990 consitution or even the 1970 constitution.8221; Asked if the Fiji-Indians would be enfranchised under any new arrangement, he replied: 8220;We have never said otherwise.8221;

Tarakinikini also revealed that the country8217;s crisis was having a 8220;very serious8221; effect on the budget deficit which would ball on to eight per cent of gross domestic product, from 2.5 per cent anticipated in the existing budget. He said the government revenue would fall by 100 million US dollars. The military would require a mini-budget cutting expenditure and raising loans to cover operating costs.