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Issue No: 629; 26 March 2001
The National Federation Party, which tried to take all credit for the 1997 Constitution, has refused to comment on the fundamental breaches of the 1997 Constitution by the President and the Qarase regime. The breaches by regime authorities have been criticised internationally, including condemnation by the Commonwealth of Nations, and numerous foreign governments including the USA. But at home, through its silence the NFP has joined the political parties supporting the illegal regime. According to media reports, the NFP stated "we must be realistic", and "we must support the process [of elections] as the practical way forward". Accepting the Qarase regime's plan, the NFP has also accepted the legitimacy of the Qarase regime. The NFP's acceptance of the unlawful acts of the regime reveal the true colors of the party. One veteran political observer and a former member of the NFP stated that the silence of the party over the unlawful acts and the breach of the Constitution represents the influence of the party financiers on the party hierarchy. He claims that the party represents the interests of big businesses, particularly ethnic Indian businesses, and that most of them were upset with the People's Coalition Government's moves to bring about a level commercial field, transparency in government dealings, and an end to tax avoidance and evasion in the country. Meanwhile rumours are rife of a coalition between the NFP and
the group of politicians which Qarase represents, to fight the next election. |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
