Leader of Fiji’s Opposition Bloc 16 Inia Seruiratu says that a national dialogue to understand the country’s historical context and causes of past upheavals must occur before reviewing the 2013 Constitution.
The talanoa sessions he adds will also help in building consensus and identifying the shared values necessary for a sustainable constitution that can maintain sociopolitical stability regardless of the change in government.
Weighing in on calls pushing for the review of the 2013 Constitution, Seruiratu said changing the constitution alone will not “solve problems”, pointing to the country’s historical pattern of constitutional changes.
“We’ve had four constitutions since gaining independence in 1970, “Seruiratu stated, “The 1970 Constitution was purported to be a well-balanced document. Yet we had the events of 1987. The 1997 Constitution was said to be close to perfect, still, we had the events of 2000 and 2006. There must be a shared commitment, built around our diversities, to the aspirations and the spirit of the Constitution, to make it work.
A comprehensive dialogue involving community and political leaders to discuss and analyse past events including the causes and masterminds of the coups of 1987, 2000, and 2006 is the way to go, followed by a Truth and Reconciliation Commission before the review of the constitution, without which amending the 2013 Constitution might miss addressing the root causes of Fiji’s socio-political instability.
“Because governments come and go, it is the nation and its people that will continue to remain. This process calls for Political Leadership. Because if we do not get to the root causes of our problems, and seek to collectively find solutions to those problems, the proposed review of our constitution will be just an exercise in futility,” Seruiratu stated, “This is a necessary part of the process, without which “we will continue to drift apart, our differences become untenable, our fears grow palpable, and our distrust circles without end”. This is important to “shine the light” on all the dark corners of society.”
“One of the key benefits of such Talanoa Sessions is that it can reveal the beauty and symmetry of our differences and enable us to reset our moral compass, thus allowing us to unite around our disagreements, our differences, and of course our agreements. Because what we will find, in the end, is that we need each other.”
Among those who have reportedly made calls to review the 2013 Constitution include Seruiratu’s former FijiFirst party MPs Ioane Naivalurua, Viliame Naupoto, Aliki Bia, Mosese Bulitavu, Josaia Niudamu, Alipate Tuicolo, Taito Rokomatu, Penioni Ravunawa, and Naisa Tuinaceva who make up the second grouping of Fiji’s Opposition caucus called Bloc 9.
