Issue No: 657; 5 April 2001

Leading the move are Vanua Levu politicians Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, and Ratu Josefa Dimuri.

Calling itself the Conservative Alliance Party, it claims to have the support of young chiefs from Vanua Levu.

Today's Fiji Times reports Dimuri as saying: "I don't think there can be unity among Fijians because of the traditional rivalry. The way to go now is to co-operate and we're ready to provide that."

Dimuri also stated that the SVT's silence after May 19 last year clearly showed they did not fully represent the aspirations of the indigenous Fijian people. He stated: "They organised marches and were very much involved but after the coup they said they did not agree with the means but agreed with the cause. The purpose of the march was to change the government. But after, they said it was illegal when they knew the scenario that would follow."

Lalabalavu and Vakalalabure are SVT members of Parliament while Dimuri was an SVT minister who lost his seat in 1999. Lalabalavu and Dimuri were both involved in the takeover of the Labasa military barracks by mutineers. They were subsequently charged with minor offences. Vakalalabure, a son of Cakaudrove high chief, has still not been charged despite him staying on the Parliament Complex with the terrorists. Dimuri is out on bail. One of the bail condition is that he not participate in any political meetings. The regime's law enforcement officers, however, have not been able to enforce the bail conditions as Dimuri has been openly flouting the conditions.

Dimuri stated that the SVT has lost support in Vanua Levu. Reacting to this, one newspaper reported an SVT official as saying that the new party was non-existent in Vanua Levu.