Ethnic Fijians lost respect for law

Nationalists claim ethnic Fijians lost respect for law

Thu, 8 Feb 2001 09:10:39 +1200

PEOPLE'S COALITION GOVERNMENT, FIJI Issue No: 459 8 February 2001

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Ethnic Fijians don't respect law - Nationalist

The country's ethnic Fijians have lost the respect for the rule of law, says the spokesman for the Fijian Political Parties Forum, Esira Rabuno.

A Fiji Sun article today reports on Rabuno's comments to the Fiji Law Society's call for respect for rule of law. Rabuno's comments come only a day after the Fijian Political Parties Forum stated that it respected the rule of law and that it will not lead any campaign of violence if the Appeal decision went against the regime.

The Fijian Political Parties Forum is an umbrella body of the SVT and 4 splinter political groups.

The newspaper quoted Rabuno as saying that the paramount consideration for many ethnic Fijians was their right to govern themselves as a free and independent people. "That is, owing no allegiance to any other race, or non-Fijian authority within Fiji or outside".

The Sun reported Rabuno as saying that ethnic Fijians "perceived the rule of law as an evil tool which had introduced alien values, rights and laws such as the Bill of Rights which had been given precedence over Fijian sovereignty rights to govern themselves".

This statement reveals clearly the intentions of the SVT and the splinter political groups. While it has tried to lead the police and the army away from them, the statement shows that the group continues to hold total contempt for the rule of law in the country.

The group represents a small, vocal and violent minority of ethnic Fijians in Fiji. The Qarase regime survives on the basis of support which this group has extended to it. The majority of ethnic Fijians continue to support the rule of law and the People's Coalition Government.

Meanwhile, members of the interim regime Cabinet are going around the country urging their supporters to not to engage in any violence until 19 February when the Appeals Court starts sitting. Sources claim that the regime politicians have been informing their supporters that they should wait for their word on what to do after the Appeals Court delivers its decision. It is also believed that sections of the police and the military are aware of the advice that the supporters should await the word of the regime ministers on the course of action to take after the appeal decision.

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