Page 24 - IB Dec 2020

Fiji Fiji

Sitiveni Rabuka resigns from Parliament (L) and embraces Viliame Gavoka, who replaced as party leader. Photo: Parliament of Fiji

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE MAN

RABUKA TURNS HIS BACK ON PARLIAMENT – AGAIN

By Netani Rika the foundation for national unity, stability and progress which
you and the government that you very ably led during the past
After losing the 1999 General Election to the Fiji Labour seven years has bequeathed to us.’’
Party under Mahendra Pal Chaudhry, Major-General Sitiveni Now, rejected by members within his own party after two
Rabuka resigned. tumultuous years of infighting led by the Marama Roko Tui
His deputy in the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni iTaukei – Ratu Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa, Rabuka has publicly fallen on his
Inoke Kubuabola – took over the leadership and became sword.
Leader of the Opposition. Rabuka told Parliament that he had been a magnet for in-
Rabuka has never taken rejection well. In 1999 the voters’ fighting within SODELPA and used as a scapegoat by the ruling
rejection of him either for leading the military coups of 1987 Fiji First Party for all that was wrong with Fiji’s history.
or embracing Jai Ram Reddy’s National Federation Party in an At the same time, he laid down the gauntlet – in Parliament
attempt at national unity, led to the SVT’s annihilation at the – challenging Prime Minister Rear-Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama
polls. and Gavoka to work together for a better Fiji.
He stepped aside and took up the position of first com- While this appears to be the ultimate act of self-sacrifice
moner to lead the now defunct Bose Levu Vakaturaga, often for the nation, Rabuka has effectively handed Bainimarama
referred to as the Great Council of Chiefs. and Gavoka a poisoned chalice.
When Rabuka was defeated in a palace coup and replaced If the two choose to work together for national unity as
by Bill Gavoka early this month, members of his Social Rabuka and Reddy did in 1997, the radical elements on both
Democratic Liberal Party should have known what their leader sides will look for options in 2022.
would do. If they do not work together, Rabuka will be able to say
In his concession speech in 1999, Rabuka warned: “If the that he offered Bainimarama and Gavoka an opportunity to
new Government were to use its majority to bulldoze through unite the nation and they could not, or would not, make that
measures which we see as being detrimental to the best in- sacrifice for the people.
terest of the indigenous Fijians, we would oppose these vigor- In both cases, Rabuka can galvanise support on both sides of
ously both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate the political divide and add them to the 77,000-odd votes he
and we will not hesitate to call on the support of the Great picked up in 2018.
Council of Chiefs’ appointees in the Upper House.’’ Then there is the possibility that Rabuka will set up hs own
To this, Chaudhry pledged that his government would “up- political party. His irate supporters have already called on
hold the constitution and to work with others in building on their hero to do so.

24 Islands Business, December 2020