People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress

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The People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress (initially, People's Charter for Change and Progress) is a proposed legal document which would complement the Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. It would establish compulsory guidelines for any government policy in Fiji over the coming years. The People's Charter is due to be completed and come into force prior to the scheduled 2009 general election.

1 Context
2 Content and aims of the Charter
3 Criticism and support
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Context

The People's Charter is the brainchild of current interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, head of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, who overthrew the elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in December 2006. Bainimarama alleged that Qarase was corrupt and racist, and declared that a People's Charter was necessary in order to prevent corruption and racism within future elected governments.

[edit] Content and aims of the Charter

[edit] Stated objective

In April 2007, a draft version of the Charter was published ^[1]. The draft, intended as a general presentation of the future Charter's aims, began with a statement that "Fiji’s politics and overall governance have been dominated by and deeply mired in divisive, race-based politics, policies, and institutions". Consequently, the text authors state, "Fiji needs to become a more progressive and a truly democratic nation; a country in which its leaders, at all levels, emphasize national unity, racial harmony and the social and economic advancement of all communities regardless of race or ethnic origin."

The overall objective of the Charter is defined as follows:

To rebuild Fiji into a non-racial, culturally-vibrant and united, well-governed, truly democratic nation that seeks progress, and prosperity through merit-based equality of opportunity, and peace.

Much emphasis is laid on the necessity to prioritise national unity over the politics of separate ethnic communities.

[edit] Short-term consequences

Commodore Bainimarama has said that the People's Charter will prevent any candidate for the 2009 general election from campaigning on racist and divisive policies. Such candidates would be barred from taking part in the election.

"That will be taken care of by the charter so if anybody with Qarase-like policies comes in, the charter will automatically remove them." ^[2]

Asked by a journalist whether Qarase would be allowed to take part in the election, Bainimarama said he would: "That is also in the commitment we had yesterday and that was [sic] always been there" ^[3].

In May 2008, Bainimarama added that the military would enforce future governments' compliance with the provisions of the Charter.^[4]

[edit] Methodology

The Charter is to be prepared by a National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF), supposed to be "broadly representative of Fiji society (including leaders and representatives from the civil society including NGOs, the private sector, religious and community organisations, employers/workers and youth organisations, and the political parties)" ^[5].

The NCBBF held its first meeting on January 16, 2008. It reportedly began with an "in depth" assessment of the state of the nation ^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10].

Officially, the NCBBF's work on the Charter is overseen by an independent monitoring group, which reports directly to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo. The monitoring group is chaired by Sela Molisa, a member of the Parliament of Vanuatu. Reverend Amy Chambers is also a member of the monitoring group.^[11]

[edit] Criticism and support

The proposed Charter has received strong support from the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji, Archbishop Petero Mataca, who became co-chair (with Commodore Bainimarama) of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji. However, others have been more cautious, noncommittal or openly critical. Fiji Women's Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali declined to comment. Fiji's Citizens Constitutional Forum continues to oppose the military coup, calling it unjustifiable, but in response to the proposed Charter, has said there is "a serious need to re-look at problems to find solutions to move the country forward".^[12] The Archbishop has been asked by prominent Catholics in Fiji to step down from the NCBBF. Prominent names such as Ro Teimumu Kepa, Kenneth Zinck, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, and Pita Waqavonovono have approached the Archbishop and asked him to resign.^{[citation needed]}

The National Federation Party and the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party both oppose the idea of a People's Charter implemented by an unelected government ^[13]. Fiji’s Methodist Church, to which a majority of indigenous Fijians belong, also opposes the Charter ^[14].

Samisoni Pareti of the magazine Islands Business has expressed doubt as to whether elections can be held as promised in early 2009 if the interim government insists on having the People's Charter in place before the election. In Pereti's view, the Charter will not be completed in time, and Bainimarama may have to choose between postponing the election (and thus sparking the ire of the international community) or abandoning his People's Charter ^[15].

By contrast, New Zealander human rights activist Thakur Ranjit Singh has expressed public support for the People's Charter, stating that fresh elections alone would not address the "fundamental problems in Fiji", such as "the agenda of the nationalists who want Fiji for Fijians and Fiji as a Christian state" or a "culture of corruption, nepotism and cronyism"; the People's Charter must therefore, in Singh's view, be implemented before any election takes place ^[16].

Human Rights Activist Angie Heffernan of the Center for Public Integrity, Virisila Buadromo of the FWRM and Sharon Rolls of Femlink have publically denouced the Peoples Charter.^{[citation needed]}

The Pacific Islands Forum has supported the proposed Charter ^[17].

In April 2008, a Fiji Times opinion poll found that public opinion was evenly split, with 46.2% disagreeing with the idea of the Charter, and 45.8% supporting it.^[18]

Youth Activists that make up the Young Peoples Concerned Network, have on many occasions called on the NCBBF to be disbanded. And have criticized the Peoples Charter members in particular the appointment of a youth representative to the NCBBF who the YPCN declares does not have the youth mandate.^{[citation needed]}

The Peoples Charter has also been denounced by various provincial councils. the Provinces of Namosi, Rewa, Lomaiviti, Cakaudrove, Bua, Macuata, Naitasiri and Tailevu have pushed aside the Peoples Charter. Cakaudrove, Rewa, Naitaisiri and Namosi have banned NCBBF officials from entering their villagers.^{[citation needed]}

Various NGOs and Church groups -the Methodist Church, SDA {what is the SDA?}, Fiji Muslim League, Arya Pratindhi Sabha, Assembly of Christian Churches Fiji- have followed suite.^{[citation needed]}

Former vice president of the Fiji Islands Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi said in a speech in April 2008 that the People's Charter lacked support from a significant percentage of people in Fiji.^{[citation needed]}