Fiji's Rabuka new SODELPA leader

Transcript

Former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka has controversially been named the new leader of Fiji's main opposition party, SODELPA.

Mr Rabuka's appointment was confirmed during Friday's annual meeting in Suva.

In the past he led two coups in 1987 before becoming prime minister in 1992 and holding that role until losing the 1999 election.

Mr Rabuka replaces Ro Teimumu Kepa who earlier resigned.

Other high profile SODELPA members indicated on social media that they intended to follow suit in the wake of Mr Rabuka's victory.

But he told Koro Vaka'uta the party is not split.

SITIVENI RABUKA:  The most pleasant thing about it is that three prominent members of the party spoke at the end of the meeting and, although they were against me being a candidate, they do not see things the way I see them and opposed me in 2014, they put their weight and called on their supporters to support me.  So I take it as a big challenge, knowing that there are some with doubts within the party and some may leave, some have probably left since my name was mentioned or since I won the vote.  So it's going to be a big challenge and to go against the Fiji First (Party) who have had a long run and enjoy a big majority in the House.  It's a really daunting task.

KORO VAKA'UTA:  You mentioned (earlier) how close the voting or the process was.  Does that show a divided party, a party that probably needs to come together?  What does that show?

SR:  Initially the interview showed that the candidates that put their hands up for interview and selection were equally good.  When it came to the vote I realised that it was going to be difficult to break the traditional lines and that was the way it went.  It is not a divided party.  It is a party that is still very much aligned to traditional vanua alliances, which is not a bad thing.  Once the head of the vanua gave her support for me, that brings the whole camp into line with the rest of the party so it's not really a divided party.  I don't see it as a divided party.  There are dissenting views but not a divided party.

KV:  Why do you think you were successful?

SR:  I went in as the underdog because I have had a very low profile since '99 but my selection tells me that there are people who remember my performance as Prime Minister.  Those who were still in dissent remembered my performance as a coup leader.  To come out and win the majority of party support means that views are changing.  Those that negatively see me because of the 1987 coup are probably now a minority in the party.  I had to repair that by presenting a traditional apology to, not only the members of the party, but the women of Fiji because during the interview it was brought up that many women in Fiji still resent me, still reject me as a leader because of 1987.

KV:  Those injuries, if you like, are hopefully healed now that you have done this traditional, official apology?

SR:  Well, the apology is just an apology.  The forgiveness and healing will have to come from within the persons involved or affected.

KV:  We did see in the immediate aftermath of your appointment, a number of party members were pointing out that they would possibly resign now that this has come through.  What do you make of those sorts of responses to your appointment?

SR:  I only had to expect that and accept that.  What we have to do is to heal and consolidate what we have left and also try and widen the support base.

KV:  What's the biggest challenge to do that and how do you do that?

SR:  It will have to be a physical presence.  It will have to be face-to-face interaction with the people.  Because I am unemployed, I can do that quite readily and I'm prepared to do that.

KV: Ro Teimumu Kepa steps down, how will your leadership and vision differ from hers?

SR:  Mine will have to be conciliatory towards the other races, which is within party Constitution and party guidelines.  Instead of a very high profile indigenous projection, it will be indigenous wishes in relation to the other races in Fiji because we cannot hope to develop Fiji focussing only on indigenous rights.  We must understand that we are a multi-ethnic society and whatever we do for one race will benefit all the other races.  We have to take everybody forward together.

KV:  The Opposition has had various obstacles in recent times and there's been a number of suspensions as well of members of parliament, what do you think of those activities and how do you overcome that?

SR:  That's just the way we have got to do (it).  If the suspensions are according to the law or protocol then we must accept those and we must act in accordance with what laws and rules we have in the land.

KV:  The Fiji First party, Prime Minister Bainmarama, they're in a position of strength so how do you present a viable Opposition?

SR:  I will not be able to present a viable Opposition because I will not be in parliament, I'll be working at the grassroots in the first 18 months or 17 months of my leadership and hopefully we will get into parliament and then they will see my parliamentary profile when I am in parliament but outside we have to work with the people.