New Zealand's policies towards Fiji have been cringe-inducing. Not a moment of history which makes us proud. Here we are, engaging in all types of positive international relations with China and India and Russia--and a host of countries which are run by authoritarian, anti-democractic regimes. But Fiji--it is the pariah state--at least to New Zealand and Australia.
Why the double standard, we may well ask? Well, Fiji has been a "client state" of New Zealand. Its constitution was co-written by a Very Prominent New Zealander, one Sir Paul Reeves. That Constitution, now suspended by an army strongman, achieved pretty much what Maori want to achieve in New Zealand--greater civil and political rights for the indigenous people. This meant that the Constitution discriminated in favour of Fijians, and made Indians (which make up a large component of the population) second class citizens. The New Zealand chattering classes and Commentariat regarded this arrangement as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
The umbrage taken when an army officer took over the government was a fearsome sight to behold. Now, we have no truck with military coups, but we do ask, if umbrage be taken, it be taken consistently. We have not noticed outpourings of umbrage because of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand--to name just a few. No, we get along fine with these authoritarian regimes. We are urbane, non-judgmental--keen to maintain good relationships, and have even been known to enter into a free trade agreement or two with these reprehensible human rights violators.
How refreshing, then, to have a politician emerge who is prepared to think and be consistent--who appears to be more principled and not about to be suborned by the desperate need to be approved by the chattering classes. It's good to see Don Brash back on the national political stage. This from Stuff:
ACT Party leader Don Brash is winning headlines in Fiji for his support of a political charter promoted by the military regime to replace the country's democratic constitution. He said he was unhappy with the way New Zealand was treating Fiji but would not be specific. . . .Ah, Consistency--thou art a jewel of great price.
Bainimarama overthrew a democratic government in 2006 and refuses to hold elections until 2014. In the meantime he has instituted what he calls a people's charter - with unelected members involved - to replace the constitution, which was co-written by New Zealand's former governor general, Sir Paul Reeves. Brash said the content of the charter made it obvious that Fiji's roadmap to democracy was legitimate and it should be supported.
"They want Fiji to be a country for Fijians irrespective of their race, whether they be Indians or indigenous Fijians," Brash said. "Now that's exactly the kind of country I want for New Zealand. I want a country where everyone, irrespective of their race whether they're Indians, Chinese, Maori or European, have equal rights under the law.". . .
"In the previous constitutions there were electorates based on race, and I think that is an undesirable situation," he said. He was opposed to Maori seats in New Zealand and indigenous, Indian and mixed race electorates in Fiji.
"I do support a society, be it New Zealand or Fiji, where all citizens have equal rights under the law. "I wasn't giving comfort to anybody. I strongly endorse having no racial preferences in a constitution. "I clearly favour a return to democracy in Fiji; I want that democracy to be based on a colourblind state."
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