SUVA, Fiji (30 Oct 2001) -- Fiji's attempted coup last year and the events that followed were a violation that has brought shame on the country, says a Labour senator. Relating the trauma she went through while being held captive in Parliament by coup front man George Speight and his gunmen, Senator Dr. 'Atu Emberson-Bain said yesterday this was one of the darkest chapters in Fiji's history. It was a chapter of "unsurpassed violence, cruelty, deceit, greed and meanness of the human spirit," she said. Senator Bain said it was unfortunate that many misunderstandings had been created about the policies and motives of the Labour-led People's Coalition Government. She said war was declared against "our government at the very outset of its term, ably marshaled by sections of the media as well as the political opposition". Senator Bain said the Coalition was committed to clean and accountable government, with the aim of cleaning up corruption and addressing the needs of those such as the poor and disadvantaged, to eliminate poverty, to reduce the inequalities in wealth, and to create a more caring, compassionate and socially just society. She told the Upper House that there was no intention to threaten Fijian land rights, and no rejection of legitimate Fijian interests and aspirations. | | Racist rebel George Speight on trial for treason Contrary to what had been suggested, she said the Coalition Government was in fact actively pursuing an affirmative action program on behalf of disadvantaged Fijians at the time of the May 19, 2000 coup. For the first time in Fiji's history, individual data bases were being developed for every village, offering a detailed profile of population, economic activity, school and health facilities, roads, water supplies and electricity. Senator Bain said their approach to affirmative action for Fijians differed from the former Sitiveni Rabuka-led SVT government in ensuring that the assistance actually reached ordinary Fijians, for whom it was intended, and to guard against opportunistic financial scams, corruption and abuse of public funds. |
