Multi-racial statute scrapped in Fiji

By P.S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, MAY 30. Fiji's new military ruler, Commodore J.V. (Frank) Bainimarama, today promulgated a decree scrapping the 1997 Constitution Amendment. As a document of multi-racial political pluralism, the scrapped statute had proved conducive to the democratic election of the now-deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Pal Chaudhry, an ethnic Indian, in a country dominated by a narrow majority of natives.

The fate of Mr. Chaudhry and his associates remained unpredictable as they were still being held captive by the ``civil coup'' leader, Mr. George Speight, despite the new military Government's overtures to him. Mr. Speight took a dim view of Cmdr. Bainimarama's credentials to steer Fiji out of its constitutional crisis, even as the military Government opened a dialogue with the representatives of Mr. Speight, who had overthrown and taken Mr. Chaudhry hostage at the Parliament building in Suva on May 19.

Cmdr. Bainimarama, proclaiming himself `the Commander and Head of the Interim Military Government of Fiji,' issued two other decrees today. While one of these protected all the laws in force prior to Monday's military takeover, subject to a proviso that new decrees could alter them henceforth, the other measure outlined the contours of a new Council of Advisers for Cmdr. Bainimarma's notional or real ``interim'' administration, according to sources in Suva.

Two significant aspects of the new ``administration'' came into sharp focus today, albeit behind the scenes, even as Mr. Speight remained unrelenting in his defiance of Cmdr. Bainimarama. The President, Ratu Kamisese Mara, who has been sidelined, was officially stated to be under ``military protection'' and safe, although out of public sight.

The other significant development was the diplomatic indication that a new Acting Prime Minister had either been nominated or might soon be appointed by the military ruler. Speculation in this regard zeroed in on a former Army Chief, Ratu Epelii Nailtikau. While there was no authoritative confirmation of this by nightfall today, Mr. Epelii, the husband of Mr. Mara's daughter who is being held hostage along with Mr. Chaudhry and others, is known to have held diplomatic positions.

Cmdr. Bainimara maintained that Mr. Mara was still the country's President. This prompted Mr. Speight to argue that the new military ruler's judgment was ``clouded'' by his proximity to Mr. Mara.

While Mr. Speight made it clear that there would be no love lost between him and Cmdr. Bainimara, the military ruler authorised negotiations, under his auspices, with the nominees of the ``civil coup'' leader to try and secure the release of Mr. Chaudhry and others.

The negotiators said that ``goodwill'' and a desire to resolve the issue dominated their exchanges today. This development was at odds with Cmdr. Bainimara's assertion in a television interview that he could not be seen to be negotiating with Mr. Speight, who had committed a ``criminal'' act, which Mr. Mara had decided to forgive through an amnesty.

The Commonwealth announced that the question of Fiji's suspension would be discussed by an empowered panel next week.

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