Showing papers by "Brij V. Lal published in 1995"

Rabuka's Republic: The Fiji Snap Elections of 1994

Abstract: Fiji went to the polls in February 1994 following the defeat of the Rabuka government's budget in November 1993. Confounding all predictions, Sitiveni Rabuka and his party returned to power with thirty-two of the thirty-seven Fijian seats and formed a coalition government with the General Voters Party. On the Indo-Fijian side, the National Federation Party returned with twenty of the twenty-seven Indo-Fijian seats and the Fiji Labour Party with the remaining seven. This article examines the background to the elections and the role and motives of individuals and interest groups in precipitating the crisis, discusses the issues raised in the campaign, analyzes voting trends, and looks at their implications. Indigenous Fijian unity is increasingly being frayed by provincial and class tensions. Encouraged to some extent by the gradual erosion of the fear of Indo-Fijian dominance, Fijian people are beginning to air doubts about the efficacy and survival of traditional institutions and practices in the modem political arena. Rabuka promised to use his mandate to promote national unity through the politics of inclusion. How he reconciles this with his staunch advocacy of Fijian political paramountcy will test his mettle as a leader.