Transcript
Sitiveni Rabuka: Generic in the sense that they just copied the essence of the 2014 report and didn't go right down to the basic considerations required to bring about a free and fair general election - the Constitution, the Electoral Act - those are the things they should have looked at. The social-political situation in Fiji and how adequate and applicable the system of elections was.
Dominic Godfrey: The report itself, just released last week, it calls the 2018 election "well administered", it says the vote counting was "transparent and credible" yet you've called that credibility into question. What in particular?
SR: That itself. They were reporting on something they saw. They didn't know where that or what they saw was situated in.
DG: Okay…
SR: So the whole of their governments supporting them should be ashamed that they sent their team out to look at something they knew was going to be reporting on a limited scene, a limited event.
DG: Yes, you've questioned why they didn't use the previous Multinational Observer Group report as a basis for their measurement. Why do you think they didn't use the 2014 report as the basis for how they were going to look at the 2018…
SR: I don't know whether they knew before they came that the 2014 report came up against a lot of criticisms from the opposition parties and the recommendations put forward by the opposition parties were never incorporated. The report itself was not tabled in the house and not debated and no improvement was done on the system before the 2018 MOG arrived.
DG: But this latest report, it does call into question the level playing field which led up to last year's election. It notes that there were high profile ministerial activities and some advertising during that campaign period, prior to the elections, it recommends…
SR: Yes, we accept that. That's a fair side of it but it's very-very small.
DG: It recommends a new code of conduct around elections. What else would you like to see?
SR: Change. A whole change in the system. This system does not suit a tribal society that has tribal and regional and geographic interests that need to be taken to the House for debate by regional and local representatives.
DG: So, to adopt these recommendations that you're suggesting, there's quite a lot to consider there so one of the things…
SR: No no, it's not a lot to consider because it was a system that Fiji was running on, maintained by the 1997 constitution. This one is new. It came in with this new government that is bent on a dictatorial system to have as a basis for the general election in Fiji [and] will make sure that they are returned to government in perpetuity.
DG: So change is needed for the next election in 2022?
SR: Well I hope that the report that they have put out and the responses that have come out from political party leaders and the people will eventually galvanise the government into some action that will result in changes in the system.
DG: so looking forward to the 2022 election, you've said that you hope the government takes the report recommendations seriously and starts consultation. You've said beginning two years before the election.
SR: Yes, and that is next year. Early next year we should be talking about it. Now that this report is out there is no reason why it should not now be committed to the standing committee responsible for that.
