16 Feb 2006

Fiji's CAMV party to dissolve

8:58 pm on 16 February 2006

The junior partner in Fiji's coalition government, the pro-coup Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua party, is to be dissolved on Friday.

Radio Fiji reports that this has been confirmed by senior party officials.

The officials are quoted as saying the dissolution of the Conservative Alliance will be the only item on the agenda of the party's annual general meeting in Suva.

The officials say over the last three weeks a party delegation has been visiting their strongholds in the provinces of Tailevu, Cakaudrove and Bua to discuss the proposal which the chiefs have approved.

The officials say after the annual general meeting the Conservative Alliance leader and transport minister, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, will make a traditional presentation to the ruling SDL party as a symbol of their intention to reconcile.

They say all Conservative Alliance members will join forces with the SDL for the coming general elections as they work towards a grand coalition of indigenous Fijian political parties.

The Conservative Alliance was formed after the May 2000 coup fronted by George Speight to remove the Labour coalition government headed by Mahendra Chaudhry.

The party currently holds the balance of power in parliament with six seats and gives the SDL its parliamentary majority.