Issue No: 683; 17 April 2001

Writing in today's Fiji Sun, journalist Mika Turaga writes:

"One of the most worrying ideas bandied about today is the idea that there will be peace and prosperity only if an indigenous Fijian with an indigenous government leads Fiji."

"But we know very well where this idea comes from. It has been promoted by people especially indigenous leaders who were skimming the cream of our achievements and benefiting from the economic overflow without working too hard because of their connections and influence thus depriving the grassroots of what they should be really getting."

"Some big business, which were able to buy influence into a Government, which ensured that their interests were always served, also promoted the idea that only Fijians must govern Fiji."

"When the SVT government was defeated in the polls in May 1999, these influential people knew they were going to suffer. They knew there was going to be a reverse of fortune when the ruling People's Coalition Government promised and started working towards a transparent, just and equitable Government and started getting positive results."

"These failed people were the ones who promoted the instability and insurrection, which led to the overturning of Government in May 2000."

"Where gullible indigenous Fijians marched through Suva on the morning of May 19, 2000 to show their opposition to the People's Coalition Government and against the 1997 Constitution, which had been promoted by dissatisfied Fijian leaders as a document, which would lead to the subjugation of the Fijian race by the Indians."

"And then they went on to parliament, to support George Speight and his henchmen who stormed the greatest institution of the land and took hostage the Government at the point of Uzis and other automatic and semi-automatic arms."