The Qarase regime is systematically using the provincial councils for its campaign.

A statement released yesterday through the regime's Information Ministry stated that the chiefs of Namosi province will choose a candidate to contest the August general elections.

The provincial council is funded by the government.

The statement was attributed to the chairman of the Namosi Provincial Council, Ratu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro. Ratu Kiniviliame contested the 1999 election for the SVT and was defeated by the Fijian Association Party.

In the statement, Ratu Kiniviliame urged the people of Namosi to unite and work together, because these were two factors which is "the basis for Fijian dominance in the political as well as economic arena".

The statement raises numerous questions.

First, and foremost, it highlights the use of provincial councils for political purposes. Provincial councils receive funds from the Ministry of Fijian Affairs. Using public funds for political purposes or electioneering is unlawful and unconstitutional.

Second, is the use of the Ministry of Information to take out a statement on election strategy for a group of people who back a particular party. The regime's Information Minister is the Leader of the SVT. Ratu Kiniviliame was also an SVT candidate. Such abuse of state resources is certain to raise the ire of other ethnic Fijian political parties in the country.

Third, is the issue of the use of state resources to champion the dominance of one particular ethnic group in the country. To call for the political and economic dominance of one particular race in a multi-ethnic nation, using tax payers funds, is not only unethical, but also a recipe for instability. State sponsored oppression of ethnic groups is a crime under international law.

While the blatant abuse of taxpayers money for election campaigns began with the SVT government when it used the Ministry of Fijian Affairs for its 1994 and 1999 election campaigns, the mode has been picked up again by the Qarase regime.

It is common knowledge that some influential ethnic Fijians think that it is their God-given right to use taxpayers funds for their private purposes. In the past objections to such abuse have been quashed by retreating to notions of the high status of chiefs and tradition. The Qarase regime is now perpetuating such abuse.