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Hands off, Ratu Inoke says after Samoa talk
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Posted on Oct 24 2000
Suva (Fiji’s Daily Post/PINA Nius Online) - No country has the right to interfere in the constitutional arrangement of another country, says Fiji’s Interim Information Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
Ratu Inoke said the constitution of a country is an internal matter for the citizens of the country and it will be best handled by them.
He was reacting to ousted deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tupeni Baba’s conclusion on his meeting with the Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, last week.
Dr. Baba stated the Samoan government had accepted that the reinstatement of the 1997 Constitution provided the most principled and realistic way of resolving the Fiji crisis.
Dr. Baba said the Samoan Prime Minister also expressed concern about the long time frame that the Interim Administration had mapped for the return of a constitutional government.
“Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi informed that he would raise the matter at the Forum Heads of Government meeting next week and request the forum to assist Fiji in finding a speedy and constitutional settlement to its crisis,” Dr. Baba said.
“The Samoan government also stressed on the security situation in Fiji, saying that Samoan students haven’t returned to the University of the South Pacific because of the law and order situation in the country.”
Dr. Baba and ousted Assistant Fijian Affairs minister Isireli Vuibau, who was part of the Peoples Coalition delegation, also met with Tongan government officials at a stopover on the way to Samoa and have communicated to all Forum head of government about the possible framework for the Forum’s engagement in resolving the crisis in Fiji.
Meanwhile, Interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Interim Foreign Affairs Minister Kaliopate Tavola will be representing Fiji at the Forum Heads of Government meeting, scheduled to be held next week.
