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Issue No: 754; 12 May 2001
Academics at the University of the South Pacific have called for internal unity of each ethnic group. Today the Daily Post reports a Professor of Politics, Prof. Stewart Firth as saying that the unity of ethnic Fijians was essential for stability and peace in the country. He is reported to have said that the unity of ethnic Fijians was more important than the unity of ethnic Indians, though he is quoted as saying that ethnic Indians should also unite. The paper also quoted another USP academic, Dr. Mahendra Reddy as urging ethnic Indians to unite. He said that given the threats to the 1997 Constitution, the Fiji Labour Party and the National Federation Party should contest the elections under one banner. Alternatively, he suggested that they could distribute the seats on the basis of the percentage of votes each party received in the last election. He proposed that the FLP be given 20 of the 30 seats while 10 be given to the NFP. The NFP had failed to win any seat in the last election. The Fiji Labour Party is the only multi-racial party in the country. Now there are concerted attempts by academics to portray the FLP as an ethnic Indian party. The ease with which academics have jumped into the currently
popular ethnic bandwagon raises serious questions on the seriousness of the
University academics in creating an intellectual environment for breaking out of
the ethnic rut destroying this nation. |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
