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SUVA: Adi Kuini Vuikaba Speed, one of two deputy prime ministers in
Fiji's ousted elected government, has pledged to oppose a "selfish and
dishonest minority" destabilising the Pacific country.
Adi Kuini, the Tui Noikoro and widow of the the last Labour prime
minister Dr Timoci Bavadra, said "enlightened Taukei" would continue
to
struggle for the evolution of an "indigenous Fijian programme" and
the
development of Fiji.
"Twice the enlightened Taukei among us have tried to continue with those
reforms in the interests of indigenous Fijian progress and twice we have
been overthrown at the point of a gun by the selfishness and dishonesty
of our opponents," she said in a statement from her hospital bed in
Canberra.
She was referring to the Bavadra government which was deposed after one
month in office in May 1987 as well as the Mahendra Chaudhry government
which survived one year. Both governments were multiracial coalitions.
In the Fiji Times today, Adi Kuini, who is leader of the Fijian
Association Party, warned that no good would some of making promises to
the Taukei (indigenous Fiji Islanders) that could not be met.
"It only leads to more discontent, more violence, more divisions and
disintegration of our communal system," she said.
Adi Kuini said reforms pursued by Ratu Sukuna and Ratu Mara had made a
"great difference" to the standard of living of the ordinary Taukei
in
the modern world.
"It has certainly made an enormous difference to the lives of some of
the Taukei elite who now want to stop the evolution of those reforms for
petty personal gain," she said.
Adi Kuini rejected accusations of disrespect towards the interim
President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
"I can only say that there needs to be a special vaccine available in
this country to prevent acute amnesia," she said.
"The Fijian members of the People's Coalition made our proposals of the
Government of National Unity known to the interim president in the
normal Fijian way of addressing a high chief and holder of the highest
public office.
"We did not loot, carry a weapon, fire a weapon, kill innocent
civilians, damage or obstruct public utilities and then publicly boast
of our actions in order to present our proposals to the interim head of
state.
"Our actions speak volumes about who are the true defenders and
upholders of the Fijian way."
+++niuswire
Title -- 2860 FIJI: Adi Kuini vows to fight on
Date -- 25 July 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- Fiji Times, 25/7/00
Copyright -- FT
Status -- Unabridged
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