At a working group meeting in Suva, the National Federation Party said it would ask Ratu Josefa Iloilo to instead install a caretaker government “with the sole objective of organizing free and fair elections under the provisions of the 1997 Constitution.”
In a statement, the party said this was part of plans it had as part of a road map to parliamentary democracy. The party’s working committee has also resolved to call on the president to convene the proposed political forum “at the earliest opportunity.”
This, it said, would allow parties to negotiate a wide terms of reference independent of the of the draft People’s Charter process.
It suggested that such terms of reference should not be limited to electoral reform or Charter issues only but be broad based to look at Fiji’s political, social and economic problems as a whole.
As well, the NFP has resolved to take part in such a forum provided it is held independent of the draft Charter and comprises independent individuals of international repute and acceptable credibility.
On the draft Charter itself, the NFP resolved to hold public and pocket meetings and consultations with members of the public and carry out an awareness exercise to oppose the document.
It’s described the draft Charter and the National Council for Building a Better Fiji as unconstitutional, unnecessary exercises. It plans to set up a network of like-minded political parties, NGOs, trade unions, religious and cultural organizations and civil society opposed to the Charter.
Meanwhile, Fiji’s interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama would use his trip to the United Nations this week to seek the assistance of the United Nations and Commonwealth over the chair for the President’s Political Forum.
Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the interim government had written U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.
He said the president had suggested three names for the forum including the immediate past secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Don McKinnon, head of the Constitution Advisory Support Unit of the United Nations Development Program in Nepal ,Professor Yash Ghai, and former prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Rabbie Namaliu.
“The interim government has written to the secretary-generals of the U.N. and the Commonwealth and I understand they will be talking to them,” Sayed- Khaiyum told the Fiji Times.
