Page 18 - IB AUG 2017

Politics
The decreed legacy of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum

By Jone Dakuvula My positive impression of him was
formed more from my knowledge of his
THE Attorney General and Minister for brother, Riaz Khaiyum, who was a jour-
the Economy Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum is nalist and leading Fiji TV interviewer on
probably the most influential Minister this Close Up, rather than any close knowledge
country has ever had. of Aiyaz Khaiyum. Not long after my en-
His influence is everywhere, in the counter with Aiyaz Khaiyum, he gave me
Decrees, the Constitution, the Electoral a copy of his LLM Thesis to read. (now
system, economic policies the news media titled “The Sunset Clause” in Fiji leaks or
and even foreign policies of this country. the “Final Solution” in Fiji Coup Four Point
He has been in a position of unusual Five (BLOGS). Since, one of the found-
power and influence since 2007 when he ers of CCF, Professor Yash Ghai of Hong
became the Attorney General and Minister Kong University, had supervised him as a
for Justice under the first Cabinet of Com- student, I decided to read it.
modore Bainimarama. That was after the I did not read it closely but remember
removal through a bloodless Coup of the being impressed with the historical analy-
elected government led by Laisenia Qarase sis but not the intellectual assumptions
on December 4, 2006. Will Khaiyum’s underlying the thesis which I thought were
influence on the direction and evolution based on naïve assumptions about cultural
of Fiji as a state, a political and economic change and nation building. Man of many hats ... Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
system and a nation of diverse people, be Khaiyum suggested that CCF publish it.
of lasting significance? This is a question Politely I said I would discuss with Rev the Prime Ministers Officer that revealed to
that should be evaluated and answered Yabaki, the executive director. He asked me the real Aiyaz Khaiyum.
after he is no longer in power, by those me if I had read it. I said I read only parts The NCCBF was the brain child of John
who are better qualified and can take a and I did not think it was the kind of re- Samy, an economist who was a friend from
more objective and balanced assessment. search that CCF could publish because it USP student days in the early 1970’s. One
This column is only a narrow impres- did not arise out our work and, Khaiyum of the objectives of the NCCBF was to get
sionistic commentary on some of his had not done anything for CCF. Besides, the interim coup government of Bainima-
initiatives and impacts, particularly on I said his sociologically fashionable theo- rama to address many issues that had been
development towards the 2013 Constitu- ries were wrong headed in assuming that neglected by earlier governments and to
tion. Parliament and the electoral laws. I indigenous Fijians could be changed by follow a reconciliatory path back to Par-
generally raise the question: What had imposition from the state without con- liamentary democracy. This way forward
motivated him and will his actions be of sultation and their support. Later, when was to be based on agreed amendment to
lasting value to the country? Khaiyum rang me and asked, I told him the 1997 Constitution, particularly a new
The first time I learnt about Aiyaz Khai- that Rev Yabaki would not publish it. Soon proportional electoral system of elections
yum was after the 1987 Coup of Sitiveni after that, Khaiyum stopped attending CCF based on regional constituencies to replace
Rabuka when I was still living in Wel- steering committee meetings. In hindsight, the divisive communal system of voting.
lington. I read in the Fiji Times there was Khaiyum was probably then already think- After the NCBBF submitted its Report
a young man who was arrested and locked ing of a future in politics and an association with its vision of a United Fiji and the way
up in jail with other friends of mine after with CCF through publication, that would forward in the Peoples Charter for Change
a brave demonstration in Sukuna Park brand him as a progressive human rights Peace and Progress (PCCPP), I stayed on at
against the Coup. lawyers. the Prime Minister’s office as a Secretariat
When I came back to Fiji in 1990, I did His next dealing with CCF was in 2011 for the Political Parties Consultative Forum.
not meet Khaiyum until about 10 years when he attacked Rev Yabaki and the CCF This forum (that included Laisenia Qarase)
later when he was a corporate lawyer for publishing parts of a Report by the had been convened to continue discus-
with the National Bank of Fiji. He came UK lawyer’s group who had been to Fiji sions of the NCBBF Report and proposed
to our CCF Officer representing the Fiji as observers and one of them had been amendments to the 1997 Constitution,
Young Lawyers Association. After some a legal volunteer for CCF. Rev Yabaki and starting with the appointment of a Consti-
conversation, we invited him to join the CCF were taken to court, sued by the AG tution Review Commission to hold public
CCF Steering Committee. for “scandalising the court” and were fined hearings and then draft the amendments.
Thereafter, he used to come to our $25,000. By then I had ditched my earlier These would go to a National Constituent
monthly meetings, but did not contribute hopes that Aiyaz Khaiyum was going to Assembly to discuss and endorses. And
much to our discussions. At the time, be a progressive lawyer with genuine com- then a new Parliament to be elected as soon
I felt it was good to have someone who mitment to human rights and democracy. as possible in view of the international call
I thought was progressive, bright and, It was my experience of him when I was elections.
ambitious. A good lawyer keen to be as- a Consultant at the National Council for A memorable experience of Attorney
sociated with CCF. Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF) and later at General Khaiyum was when I went to brief

18 Islands Business, August 2017