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India must protest subversion of Fijian Constitution: Chaudhary

Josy Joseph in Rohtak

Deposed Fijian premier Mahendra Pal Chaudhary called on India to lead the international chorus to reinstate his government and protest against attempts to subvert the Fijian Constitution.

He made an emotional appeal to India to take the lead in bringing international pressure upon Fiji. He asked India not to 'give in to the politics of white nations like Australia and New Zealand'.

"The Indian government and Haryana should tell the international community that we will not tolerate this. Every time they subvert elected governments, every time they rewrite the Constitution Indians are the victims," Chaudhary told a crowd of villagers in the compound of the Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak.

Chaudhary kicked off his 10-day visit to India by visiting Haryana, from where his grandfather hailed. The deposed Fijian premier spoke in chaste Hindi to the delight of the crowd.

Chaudhary was received at the Delhi-Haryana border by the state's top brass and accorded a colourful welcome. He was escorted through the highway between Delhi and Rohtak. Thousands of school children and villagers lined up to greet the Fijian leader.

The Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, honoured him with a Doctorate of Letters for his 'inspiring and dynamic leadership and extraordinary commitment to democratic values and traditions' that have 'brought about all-round development in Fiji'.

The University said the D Litt is in 'recognition of his pioneering and exemplary service in improving the lot of his countrymen and his fight for the cause of democracy and social justice'.

Chaudhary said it was 'truly humbling' to receive the degree. He said the honour would strengthen his commitment to fight for democracy.

He said he felt like being at home and has 'never received a welcome like this, even back home'.

Later at a public meeting, Chaudhary said his struggle would continue. "It is more dangerous now. The military and the rebels are fighting against each other and we are caught in the crossfire," he said.

He said the fight is not between ethnic Fijians and Indians there. "Not all tribals are opposed to us," he said pointing out that his 18-member cabinet was comprised of 12 tribals.

He said certain ethnic leaders were behind the coups in the island nation. In 1987, the government, in which he was a minister, was toppled by the military and replaced by the opposition. "Then they had said that Indians were capturing power. There was international attention for sometime, but soon that vanished and we had to struggle for a decade to bring in a good constitution. It took us 10 years to bring every group together," he said.

He said Indians arrived in Fiji as farm labourers and struggled to make Fiji a progressive nation. "We saved them (tribals) from British influence. Nobody can say that we hurt the tribals," he said.

"I feel proud of the fact that my grandparents are from this land," he said, but reiterated that Fiji is his country.

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