Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum throughout the session of Parliament 10 February 2022.
Photograph: Parliament of the Republic of Fiji
The federal government of the Fiji coalition is placing its political survival forward of the wants of the individuals, claims the previous common vocation of the nation.
Talking to RNZ Pacific for the primary time for the reason that lack of energy in December 2022, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum mentioned that the administration of Prime Minister Sisifeni Rabuka is convicted if he doesn’t take care of the nation’s social and financial disaster.
Sayed-Khaiyum was hit after One of Fiji’s Deputy Prime Ministers He mentioned the nation was recovering from a “sixteen -year -old dictation”.
Sayed-Khaiyum was broadly destroyed as the correct man of former convicted Prime Minister Frank Bainimrama for 16 years.
Critics have labeled the architect of the 2013 extremely controversial structure.
Bainimarama seized energy in a navy coup in 2006 and took on its first work a yr later. Nevertheless, he returned democracy with a common election in 2014.
The previous navy chief of the Fijifirst Get together now deregistered had the victory of landslides after the primary elections in eight years.
However the social gathering was seen as dictatorial due to accusations of harassing and intimidating opponents, human rights abuses and media oppression.
Deputy Prime Minister Manaa Kamikamica instructed RNZ Pacific final month that amending the 2013 Structure was a precedence researcher “successfully dictatorship”.
“One of many principal causes Bainimarama’s regime will not be in authorities is now imposing a structure that attempted on individuals with little session.
“I’m drawn to that solely a handful of individuals have been concerned in his design, it was broucht by decree,” the Deputy Prime Minister mentioned.
Nevertheless, Sayed-Khaiyum described the feedback of kamikamica as “idiotic” and “really false”.
“[To] Say that the 2013 Structure has made no contribution from peculiar fijians and was designed by a small a part of the room enclosed in secret is an entire lie, “I’ve resolved the Waves of Pacific on Thursday.
He mentioned the doc was a product of widespread consultations after the short-term regime was shaped in 2007, by means of the method handed the Nationwide Constitution for the development of a greater strand, the statute of individuals and the widespread dialogue with individuals in villages and settlements.
“It’s a cliché to say we have been dictators. We have been chosen by individuals and I’d argue that individuals had way more freedom to talk than ever earlier than,” mentioned Sayed-Khaiyum.
“Kamikamica’s story is kind of like Nazi propaganda, if you proceed to say subjugation repeatedly Peple Starthe that desires to consider it,” he mentioned
“The federal government is aware of that it’ll not survive [the 2026 polls] And, in reality, she is being directed as if there is just one one who runs it. “
He mentioned the nation wants stability, in any other case it’ll face the socio-economic disaster.
The federal government’s inequalor in opposition to the federal government successfully and dependable insurance policies meant that the hole between the wealthy and the poor is growing, he mentioned.
“Poverty, crime, drug use and unemployment have been excessive and hundreds of threads have been leaving.
“If Rabuka is concerted about our economic system and the properly -being of peculiar fijians, I have to direct all of the vitality and authorities sources in direction of
“If he can do that and never record politics the alternatives and extremes round him, he’ll achieve the political climb he desires.”
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Frank Bainimarama. September 2023
Photograph: Fb / Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
He mentioned if Kamikamica claimed that Fijifirs misplaced the 2022 elections as a result of individuals reject the Structure, they vote for Bainimarama in 2014 and 2018.
“This had nothing to do with the Structure. Actually, the doc allowed individuals to vote on coverage foundation points for the primary time. He didn’t divide individuals alongside the ethnic strains.” He mentioned.
“Upfront, individuals had two votes, one for an ethnic group and one for an open place. The 2013 Structure was saved from this.
“An individual, one vote, a worth. The electoral system beneath the 2013 Structure additionally gave ladies extra illustration than ever earlier than.”
Sayed-Khaiyum believes authorities actions to alter the doc are “underestimated” and “unconstitutional”.
“Everybody has the correct to alter the structure, it’s a two -step course of.
“You have to have three -quarters of Parliament by appriving the primary, second and third studying.
“The change refers back to the Electoral Fee afterwards, which you must arrange a referendum and three -quarters of the registered voters should set up it.
“What’s being proposed by this authorities is a Carte Blanche change that removes with a referendum and solely demanded the approval of a 3rd of a lot of the parliament members to make adjustments.”
What they imply, he mentioned, is that they will change the meeting of the Constitutional occasion if they need. He mentioned the Structure was the supreme regulation of the land and wanted stability.
The government recently failed In his try and win Covench’s assist in parliament to alter the doc and has now requested recommendation from the Supreme Court docket.
Rabuka couldn’t obtain the 75 p.c assist wanted to alter the 2013 Structure throughout the second studying of the draft regulation on constitutional modification.
In the meantime, Sayed-Khaiyum is dealing with quite a lot of legal fees, which he described as “false”.
They embrace 11 allegations of unlawful transport of a Faracm to a aircraft, 11 fees of reviewing a correctional profit, 11 fees of violating confidence by the particular person employed within the public service and 11 fees of abusing the workplace.
“Everybody is aware of that I did not maintain a gun on the aircraft,” he mentioned.