Issue No: 735; 7 May 2001

Of the 38 sectors where the 22,000 sugar cane growers were given the opportunity to vote, the NFU has decisively won in 21 sectors with one more sector result expected to be going the NFU way. The opponents, the National Federation Party backed Fiji Cane Growers Association won 15 seats, one less than the number it won in the 1998 elections.

In the disputed seat, the returning officers had declared the FCGA candidate as the victor after they stated that the candidates had polled equal votes. The name of the victor was reportedly drawn from a box.

But NFU polling data shows that one vote which had gone to the NFU candidate had been excluded from the count.

Meanwhile numerous reports of voter irregularity have been found. Many people have voted using others names. Most such voters have reportedly come through the FCGA machinery. In one case, the police was notified that a particular voter was not a cane farmer nor did he qualify to vote under the regulations, but the police officer took no notice.

There is no clear procedure of verifying the identities of voters before they are issued ballot papers. The NFU general Secretary, Mahendra Chaudhry has called for proper voter identification to be built into the electoral system.

The NFU was fighting this election under immense pressure since the NFP and the Qarase regime had ganged up to defeat the NFU. Qarase regime ministers and NFP officials were seen fraternising at polling stations. The nation was flooded with anti-Chaudhry propaganda by the NFP. The propaganda line was that Chaudhry was the cause of the coup last year and that he should not be supported. One NFP official stated on national TV that in 1999 Chaudhry asked for the tick while the people got the kick. The FCGA was also financially supported by rich ethnic Indian businessmen.

But despite such propaganda, and the concerted and combined effort of the NFP, the Qarase regime and businessmen, the NFU was unmoved in the elections. The NFU, which is a constituent of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, backs the Fiji Labour Party.

Full election results are at: http://www.pcgov.org.fj/docs_o/scgc_results_2001.htm

Despite the NFU win, however, the FCGA is confident of controlling the Council. Under the provisions, the state appoints 8 members of the Council. It is a bygone conclusion that the regime will ensure that its appointees support the FCGA.

A similar scenario had eventuated in 1998 when despite the NFU win, the Rabuka regime had ensured that its appointees support the FCGA.

This time around, however, the appointments are expected to be challenged on the grounds that the regime is illegal and can not make such appointments.