The proposed Fijian charter
August 8th, 2008 at 7:16 am by David FarrarNo Right turns covers some salient points of the proposed charter.
I beleive the coup was quite unjustified (and illegal), and the military Government has engaged in some nasty thuggish activities. I also doubt the Commodore will even really give up power (I suspect he plans to become President).
But I will say that his proposed charter would be a lot better for Fiji in the long term, than the current racially divisive constitution. Now that does not mean coups are a legitimate way to deliver better Government. They are not – and at this stage the charter is only words. But the charter does represent some light at the end of the tunnel.
Some key aspects:
- replaces racially divided seats with a one person, one vote system
- Introduce anti-discrimination laws
- remove the requirement for all major parties to be offered a place in Government, so that there is a functioning Opposition
- reduce the voting age to 18 from 21
- Abolish compulsory voting
- an independent Commission against Corruption (we need one of those in NZ also)
There are some aspects not so good, such as compulsory military service, and expanding the role of the military. They claim these are to stop the coup culture. I think it may be too late for that.
The current electoral system is not just racist but a gerrymander. One seat has 3,340 registered voters and another has 19,044. A voter in the first seat has six times the effect of a voter in the second seat. If the Commodore does get a truly democratic electoral system in place, he will be doing a good thing.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Its interesting that at the time of the coup, Banana-Rama had popular support from native fijians at least, although I cant claim to know first hand, the sources I had information from were ‘on the ground’ and there was general disent from the populace at the entrenched gummint and corruption associated with the regime.
Fiji seems a way away from true democracy but given the tribal political structures that actually rule the villages and provinces you cant expect too much too quickly.
In that kind of culture Winnie is an asset to global diplomacy.
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Well he took a while, but Bainimarama is finally starting to make good on his promises. Good on him. And remember the wise words of Article 10 of the New Hampshire Constitution: “Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government. The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.”
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Pass the tea Blair.
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 8:36 am
All Western government has been born on some kind of uprising, over-throw, coup or otherwise. I hardly ever accuse anyone of this, but the noises from this country that Fiji should not determine it’s own future by coup or any other means are hypocritical and purely racist. “Natives”, “tribal culture”, “can’t expect too much”…all pretty condescending comment on an nation that is at least attempting to move away from nepotism and corruption toward something new. Though it’s early days, Bainimarama is making good headway. It’s their country, not ours. Our nation’s “Commonwealth roots” don’t make us superior. We don’t know better than those who live there.
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Two things you might not have noticed, DPF
1 The most vociferous opposition to The Commodore has come from our very own Captain Corruption.
2 Last week there was a particularly nasty piece of violence perpetrated on a prison escapee (I think) by the police. (Not the military) The associated commentary indicated clearly that this sort of violence has been practiced for decades. Get that David? Violence has been endemic in Fijian society since long before Mr Bainimarama took over the joint.
Our media and your blog have done their best to hype incidents of violence perpetrated by the military since the Bainimarama coup but the reality is the military is no more or less violent than the police or the prison service or the rest of Fijian society.
It’s about time The Commodore was given a bit more encouragement to ring in the massive changes which for decades have been overdue and in fact shunned because they will queer the pitch of the indigenous corrupt elite who in turn have been advised by our own corrupt elite.
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Grow up GG.
How do YOU describe ‘Fijian’ Fijians? Indigineous? Thats racist and elitist to the ‘Indian’ Fijians and ‘NZ’ Fijians” etc in the country. Or are you a believer in ‘Pakeha’ New Zealanders?
Fijian culture is tribally based – fact. Even you might notice the similarity to Maori tribal culture, get it?
In a developing culture you cannot expect too much w.r.t stepping straight into sophisticated western style democracy.
Care to comment.
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 8:49 am
You’ve missed davids point adolf. He’s giving banana-rama a few points for moving forward in a positive fashion and asking for more progressive reform.
In the same way goddgod has missed the point.
cest la vie.
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 8:52 am
In a land made up of backward steps, and move forward is good. Mind you, I think the idea of something to remove the Coup Culture is quite entertaining when promoted by a Coup Leader
Never mind. Let the games begin, and in the meantime we can watch the Olympics eh!
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Adolf, it was a few weeks ago. I think 3 or 4 that the escapee was seriously injured. Whilst I do not know what happened in that instance (that being a matter for the courts in due course) the sad fact is that the Fijian police have a long history of summary justice. The fact that it seems to be continuing should be seen as a failure of the interim government to curb, not a product of the interim government.
Technically whether the events of December 5 were legal or not is sub judice. The Qarese decision is due sometime this month. Should be interesting.
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Expat, I can’t quite follow your beef with GG and AdolfF. I think they are right, but are you trying to say that they are succumbing to PC type dignifying of what is still essentially “tribal” culture?
Even so, that doesn’t alter that what they are saying is right. Bainamarama is probably going to finish right, by giving his country an improvement on what was clearly a warped constitution.
It is an interesting question, when a nation has a constitution, or lack of one, that has enabled abuses of power and the entrenchment of special interests, how does one go about changing that constitution if the entrenched interests do not allow it? Note that the best constitutions in the world tend to have been drawn up by good people who have just thrown off tyranny by way of violence, having been pushed too far. By the measure of the LACK of death and bloodshed in Fiji, Bainamarama has probably achieved something historically noteworthy. Plenty of people in the NZ Defence forces know Bainamarama and others in the Fiji military, and regard them as of a completely different stripe to Mugabe.
Vote:August 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Fiji is an example of an over prescriptive constitution that had a number of flaws. The new charter is a much simpler document and seems much fairer. It is a pity a coup happened but it was the only way to get rid of the old constitution.
Vote:August 9th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I have long suspected that Commodore Frank intends to play Ataturk to Fiji’s Turkey but what is truly laughable is the Labours governments reaction to his coup and Franks public comments on his actions. New Zealand has no capacity to stop or remove the good Commodore, so we alienate him and push him into the arms of the likes of China, truly a stupid action, and seemingly all in the name of some black or white ideology that refuses to look reality on the face.
Vote:It would have been better to realise the reality of the situation and try to influence events into helping him achieve his aims, if genuine.