The Militant - Vol.64/No.30 - July 31, 2000 -- Fiji rightists gain concessions, release hostages
Text version of the Militant 
the Militant Socialist newspaper
about this site directory of local distributors how to subscribe new and in the next issue order bundles of the Militant to sell
news articles editorials columns contact us search view back issues
SOCIALIST WORKERS CAMPAIGN
The Militant this week
FRONT PAGE ARTICLES
Striking coal miners reach out for solidarity
Win support from PACE union at Chevron, call rally
 
UN committee backs Puerto Rico independence
 
Outspoken rightist to head Canada party
 
Minnesota meat packers press fight for union
FEATURE ARTICLES
Cop violence sparks protest in Philadelphia
 
Florida UNITE workers score gain in strike
 
forums
calendar
Submit Letter to the editor
Submit article or photo
submit forum
submit to calendar


A socialist newsweekly published in the interests of working people
Vol. 64/No. 30July 31, 2000

Come to the Active Workers ConferenceCome to the Active Workers Conference
 
Fiji rightists gain concessions, release hostages
 
BY MICHAEL TUCKER  
AUCKLAND, New Zealand--Members of Fiji's Labour Party-led government held captive by rightist gunmen in the country's parliament were released in mid-July following a deal struck between the rightists and the military. The rightists, led by businessman George Speight, had seized the parliament May 19, taking 34 members of the government hostage. The 27 remaining hostages who were released July 12 and 13, including Labour Party prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry, had been held at gunpoint for eight weeks.

Fiji's military asserted control over the country following the May 19 coup, and quickly assented to the rightists' demands, including dismissing the Chaudhry government, revoking the constitution, and granting amnesty to those who carried out the coup. Negotiations bogged down, however, when the two sides failed to agree on the composition of a new government.

The accord signed July 9 by Speight and military commander Frank Bainimarama gave authority to Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs to appoint a new president, vice president, and cabinet. The council met July 13 and appointed Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president and Ratu Jope Seniloli as vice president. Both had been nominated by Speight. An interim civilian government appointed by the military only days earlier, but rejected by Speight, was dissolved.

The Great Council of Chiefs is a body of Fiji's hereditary high chiefs. The head of the council, Sitiveni Rabuka, led two military coups in 1987 that ousted a previous Labour Party-led government.

In a statement following his release, Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry called for his elected government to be restored to office. The Fiji Trade Union Congress has also called for the Labour government to be reinstated. Chaudhry expressed support for a number of sanctions that have been imposed against Fiji by the imperialist powers in the region, Australia and New Zealand.

Speight and the rightist forces he leads call for a government dominated by indigenous Fijians, stirring chauvinism against Fijians of Indian descent. The call for "indigenous" supremacy is raised by the chiefly aristocracy that has traditionally ruled Fiji, backed by prominent local capitalists, as they seek to maintain their power and privilege. In targeting Indo-Fijians they hope to deal a blow to the labor movement by fomenting divisions among working people and restricting the political rights of a large section of workers and farmers.

The core of gunmen who organized the May 19 coup are members of the military Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit, an elite army squad set up under Sitiveni Rabuka following the 1987 coups to target the labor movement and other opponents of his military regime.  
 
Speight supporters attack Indo-Fijians
As the negotiations between the military and the rightists dragged out over the past two months, schools remained closed, sugar cane farmers and workers refused to harvest the cane crop, and many workers in the garment and tourist industries were laid off.

Gangs of Speight supporters in some parts of the country have organized violent attacks to intimidate Indo-Fijians and supporters of the Labour Party, as well as looting to feed those occupying the parliamentary compound.

A number of land occupations and other actions by Fijian villagers have taken place in recent weeks. This included the takeover of the Monasavu hydro dam, which supplies most of the electricity for the main island of Viti Levu, including the capital Suva. Another action was the occupation of Nanuya Levu island, where the Turtle Island Lodge tourist resort is situated. The island is owned by U.S. millionaire Richard Evanson, who bought it in 1972 without consent of the landowners.

The capitalist media has portrayed such actions as part of the campaign by Speight supporters. However, many involve long-standing struggles over land grievances and other issues.

Prisoners at Naboro prison near Suva rebelled July 11, taking 26 wardens hostage in a protest against ill-treatment. Riot police stormed the prison July 17, seriously injuring 21 prisoners, who were hospitalized.

 
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home