published 29 Januray 2001

NATIONAL PRESIDENT: J KOROI  CABLES: "LABPARTY"SUVA
SECRETARY - GENERAL: M P CHAUDHRY
PHONE: 308 602 FAX 307 829

YOUR REF:

OUR REF: PC-PR/01/01

28 January 2001.

MEDIA STATEMENT

The Fiji Labour Party's (FLP) National Council gave overwhelming support to party leader Mahendra Chaudhry at its meeting last Saturday in Nawai, Nadi.

The Council rejected the call by some members for a change of leadership, condemning it as divisive and harmful to party solidarity.

The meeting reaffirmed FLPs commitment to equal rights for all citizens, irrespective of race, class or religion.

The FLP remains steadfast that a solution to Fiji's political crisis must be found within the framework of the 1997 constitution.

The meeting condemned attempts by some political parties to erode the civil and political rights of the Indian community. The Fiji Labour Party will fight against racial discrimination of any kind and take up the issue with the UN Committee on Racial Discrimination.

RULE OF LAW

The meeting was critical of the slowness with which the May 19 coup plotters and their accomplices were being investigated and brought to justice. It noted that many instigators of the soup were still free with some occupying positions in the interim regime's cabinet. The party will make representations on this to the international community because of the reluctance of the DPP and the police to ensure that the rule of law is firmly applied in all such cases.

The meeting also expressed concern that the police and the DPP had not taken any action against the leaders of political parties who have publicly threatened violence and destruction should the Fiji court of Appeal decide in favour of restoring the 1997 Constitution. These people have committed an offence against the penal code and the Public Order Act and should have criminal charges laid against them.

ALTA

The meeting condemned the arbitrary action of the Qarase regime to alter Fiji's entrenched land legislation (ALTA). The party cautioned landowners that they will lose considerable rent money which they derive from leasing their land to tenant farmers because of the inflexible attitude of the NLTB in indiscriminately forcing Indian tenants off the land.

The NLTB is acting contrary to the long term interest of the land owners by engaging in polices and practices which brand all tenancies on native land as insecure and a risk to investment of any kind.

The meeting condemned the mass eviction of Indian tenant farmers from land they and their forefathers have cultivated for generations. It was critical of the fact that evicted farmers were not provided any tangible state assistance for their housing and other basic needs.

MEETING WITH PRESIDENT

The Party will seek follow up meetings with the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, to pursue further discussions on issues raised with him at a meeting last November.

The delegation to meet the President will comprise senior members of the People Coalition. In the November meeting, the President had agreed to reconvene talks after he had carried out necessary consultations on the issues raised with him. However, no further word was heard from his office on the subject.

The Coalition feels that it is time to recommence discussions on several matters which affect the daily lives of our people. The prevailing state of insecurity and instability in the country is fast destroying our economy. Thousands have lost employment since the May 19 coup. More jobs are being lost each day as the economy continues to slide.

Hundreds of skilled workers and professional people of all races have left our shores and this exodus is gaining momentum each day. The sugar industry which is the backbone of our economy is in a critical state, with all signs of its early dernise.

Prices of food and other basic commodities have increased sharply with the reimposition by the Qarase regime of VAT and customs duty removed from these items by the People's Coalition government. Thousands have joined the poverty queue since May 19. Many families are unable to provide for their basic necessities such as food, shelter and schooling for their children. The Qarase regime is responsible for the pain and suffering of our people.

It is quite evident that the interim regime is unable to govern effectively for the good of the people. The regime is not recognized by the international community. It is unable to restore trust and confidence in the people and in investors.

Fiji will not move forward unless democracy is restored quickly. Parliament must he recalled and the nation governed by a legitimate government.

These are the issues that the Peoples Coalition proposes to raise with the President.