NO EASY SOLUTION TO FIJI CRISIS
When a group of gunmen led by George Speight stormed Parliament and took hostage
our elected representatives, we stated that we believed it was in Fiji's best
interest for the People’s Coalition to be restored to power.
We strongly abhorred -- and still do -- the illegal act by a group of gunmen
who, in one moment of madness, destroyed the democratic principles everyone
had worked so hard for in the 1997 Constitution.
Today, no matter how you look at it, the damage has been done. The event cannot
be reversed, much as we would want it to.
Now, the immediate task at hand is to find an effective solution that is still
in the best interest of Fiji -- and not necessarily the international community
at large.
Seven days after the event unfolded, it is clear that this solution is no longer
the return of the People's Coalition to power. As much as we are aware of the
backlash from the international community, the solution to our problem lies
with us.
We may initially lose some friends and make some sacrifices as far as trade
and aid are concerned, but it is apparent that the solution will require elements
that are a unique part of the Fijian way of life.
In that context, the state of emergency declared by the President, and the
resolutions by the Great Council of Chiefs, are designed to save Fiji and its
people from a
worsening crisis. And more importantly, the lives of the people held hostage,
including Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
The chiefs have outlined what they think is best to resolve the crisis. Many
will argue that Speight has been given too much. Why should he be pardoned?
Why should he have a role in the running of the country?
Whatever happens, Mr. Chaudhry must step down. No one should have to endure
what he and his colleagues have been through this past week. However, he must
accept responsibility for the role he has played in the lead up to the crisis.
No doubt there are questions hanging over the legality of the decisions - and
these will have to be sorted out by the legal experts. What we need to do now
is to find
what's best and the least damaging of the unenviable alternatives we face. We
must also avoid signaling that it is acceptable any time for anyone with a gripe
against the Government to forcefully ? as George Speight has done - change the
mandate of the voters in a democratically held election.
At the end of the day, the serious question we ask ourselves today is what
sort of future do we want.
The answer certainly will not be found in any further violence.
This text may have been edited to protect the writer.
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last revision 5/29/00