Fijian Association Party
Encyclopedia
The Fijian Association Party (FAP) is a former political party in Fiji
. It played a significant role in Fijian politics
throughout the 1990s, but lost all of its seats in the House of Representatives
in the parliamentary election
of 2001.
The FAP was founded in 1994 by Josefata Kamikamica, head of the Native Land Trust Board and a former Minister of Finance. Following the parliamentary election
of 1992, Kamikamica and five of his supporters had left the Fijian Political Party of Sitiveni Rabuka
and unsuccessfully challenged him for the Prime Ministership, attempting to build a coalition government
with the Indo-Fijian opposition. The party won five seats in the general election
of 1994, which was called three years early because of political instability. Following Kamikamica's death from cancer in 1996, Ratu Finau Mara
(the son of then-President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
) took over the leadership. In 1998, he was replaced by Adi Kuini Speed
, the widow of former Fiji Labour Party
(FLP) Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra
, who had been deposed in a coup
led by Rabuka, then a Lieutenant Colonel
in the army, in 1987. Speed joined the FAP in 1985 after falling out with her late husband's party over the direction in which Mahendra Chaudhry
, the new leader, was taking it.
In the parliamentary election
of 1999, the FAP joined with Chaudhry's FLP as part of the People's Coalition
, an electoral alliance which also included a number of smaller parties. The FLP, supported mostly by Indo-Fijians, sought partnerships with parties led by ethnic Fijians
in order to broaden its support base. The FAP won ten seats in the 71-member House of Representatives, its best result ever. The FAP initially proposed Speed for Prime Minister, saying that she would be more acceptable to indigenous Fijians than Chaudhry. President Mara, however, persuaded her to accept Chaudhry as Prime Minister, pointing out that the FLP had won a majority - 37 seats - in its own right. Towards the end of 1999, Speed survived a challenge to her leadership of the FAP in a divisive High Court
case, which resulted in backbencher
Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto
and his supporters splitting from the party.
The government of which the FAP was a part was deposed in the Fiji coup of 2000
, instigated by George Speight
. An election to restore democracy
was held in 2001, but by this time many of its members had left to join the new Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
of Laisenia Qarase
. The FAP contested only 15 seats, on a platform of alleviating poverty through income-generating projects, reducing health costs and increasing education assistance for poor families, promoting indigenous Fijian culture, and increasing the participation rate of women at all levels of decision making. The party also attempted to make inroads into the Indo-Fijian electorate, accusing the United Fiji Party of promoting racism
. The electorate was polarized to an extent not seen for more than a decade, however, with ethnic Fijians rallying behind the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua and its ally, the Conservative Alliance
, and Indo-Fijians behind the FLP. All FAP candidates, including Speed, were defeated.
In June 2002, most members of the FAP joined with three other parties, including its former rival, the Fijian Political Party, to form the Fiji Democratic Party
under the leadership of Filipe Bole
. In April 2005, this party dissolved itself in order to merge with the newly formed National Alliance Party of Fiji
, founded by Ratu Epeli Ganilau
. A rump of the FAP continues, under the leadership of Ratu Inoke Seru.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. It played a significant role in Fijian politics
Politics of Fiji
Politics of Fiji takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Fiji has a multi-party system with the Prime Minister of Fiji as head of government. The executive power is exercised by the government...
throughout the 1990s, but lost all of its seats in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
in the parliamentary election
Fiji election of 2001
The Constitution of Fiji was restored by a High Court decision on 15 November 2000, following the failure of the political upheaval in which the government had been deposed and the constitution suspended in May that year. On 1 March 2001, the Appeal Court upheld the decision. An election to...
of 2001.
The FAP was founded in 1994 by Josefata Kamikamica, head of the Native Land Trust Board and a former Minister of Finance. Following the parliamentary election
Fiji election of 1992
General elections were held in Fiji between 23 and 30 May 1992. It was the first election held since two military coups in 1987 had severed Fiji's 113-year old constitutional links with the British Monarchy, and later Fijian Monarchy, and ushered in a republic.The 1992 elections were the first to...
of 1992, Kamikamica and five of his supporters had left the Fijian Political Party of Sitiveni Rabuka
Sitiveni Rabuka
Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected the third Prime Minister, serving from 1992 to 1999...
and unsuccessfully challenged him for the Prime Ministership, attempting to build a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
with the Indo-Fijian opposition. The party won five seats in the general election
Fiji election of 1994
General elections were held in Fiji between 18 and 25 February 1994. This election, the second since Fiji had become a republic following two military coups in 1987, was brought about by splits within the ruling Fijian Political Party and by the withdrawal of the support of the Fiji Labour Party,...
of 1994, which was called three years early because of political instability. Following Kamikamica's death from cancer in 1996, Ratu Finau Mara
Finau Mara
Ratu Alifereti Finau Mara is a Fijian lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He is best known as the eldest son of former Prime Minister and President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Since December 2001, he has held the official position of Roving Ambassador and High Commissioner, representing Fiji's interests...
(the son of then-President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
Kamisese Mara
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992...
) took over the leadership. In 1998, he was replaced by Adi Kuini Speed
Kuini Speed
Adi Kuini Teimumu Vuikaba Speed was a Fijian chief and politician, who served as Deputy Prime Minister in 1999 and 2000....
, the widow of former Fiji Labour Party
Fiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
(FLP) Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra
Timoci Bavadra
Timoci Uluivuda Bavadra was a medical doctor who served for one month as the second Prime Minister of Fiji in 1987 and who founded the Fiji Labour Party....
, who had been deposed in a coup
Fiji coups of 1987
The Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II as Queen of Fiji, and in the declaration of a republic...
led by Rabuka, then a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the army, in 1987. Speed joined the FAP in 1985 after falling out with her late husband's party over the direction in which Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
, the new leader, was taking it.
In the parliamentary election
Fiji election of 1999
General elections were held in Fiji between 8 and 15 May 1999. They were the first election held under the revised Constitution of 1997, which instituted a new electoral system and resulted in Mahendra Chaudhry taking office as Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.-Electoral system:Previously,...
of 1999, the FAP joined with Chaudhry's FLP as part of the People's Coalition
People's Coalition (Fiji)
The People's Coalition was an alliance of three political parties in Fiji, formed in March 1999 to contest the parliamentary election to be held in May that year...
, an electoral alliance which also included a number of smaller parties. The FLP, supported mostly by Indo-Fijians, sought partnerships with parties led by ethnic Fijians
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
in order to broaden its support base. The FAP won ten seats in the 71-member House of Representatives, its best result ever. The FAP initially proposed Speed for Prime Minister, saying that she would be more acceptable to indigenous Fijians than Chaudhry. President Mara, however, persuaded her to accept Chaudhry as Prime Minister, pointing out that the FLP had won a majority - 37 seats - in its own right. Towards the end of 1999, Speed survived a challenge to her leadership of the FAP in a divisive High Court
High Court (Fiji)
The High Court of Fiji is one of three courts established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution of Fiji—the others being the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The Constitution empowers Parliament to create other courts; these are subordinate to the High Court, which is authorized to oversee all...
case, which resulted in backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto
Tu'uakitau Cokanauto
Ratu Tu'uakitau George Cokanauto is a Fijian chief and politician. He is the scion of a distinguished family, as a son of Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau , and brother of the Parliamentary Speaker, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.- The 1999 election and aftermath :In the parliamentary election of 1999,...
and his supporters splitting from the party.
The government of which the FAP was a part was deposed in the Fiji coup of 2000
Fiji coup of 2000
The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of a non-native Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and...
, instigated by George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
. An election to restore democracy
Fiji election of 2001
The Constitution of Fiji was restored by a High Court decision on 15 November 2000, following the failure of the political upheaval in which the government had been deposed and the constitution suspended in May that year. On 1 March 2001, the Appeal Court upheld the decision. An election to...
was held in 2001, but by this time many of its members had left to join the new Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua is a political party in Fiji...
of Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
. The FAP contested only 15 seats, on a platform of alleviating poverty through income-generating projects, reducing health costs and increasing education assistance for poor families, promoting indigenous Fijian culture, and increasing the participation rate of women at all levels of decision making. The party also attempted to make inroads into the Indo-Fijian electorate, accusing the United Fiji Party of promoting racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. The electorate was polarized to an extent not seen for more than a decade, however, with ethnic Fijians rallying behind the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua and its ally, the Conservative Alliance
Conservative Alliance (Fiji)
The Conservative Alliance was a far-right political party in Fiji, and a member of the ruling coalition government. It was commonly known as the CAMV, a combination of the initials of its English and Fijian names...
, and Indo-Fijians behind the FLP. All FAP candidates, including Speed, were defeated.
In June 2002, most members of the FAP joined with three other parties, including its former rival, the Fijian Political Party, to form the Fiji Democratic Party
Fiji Democratic Party
The Fiji Democratic Party is a former political party in Fiji, which operated between June 2002 and April 2005.It was founded by Filipe Bole, a former Cabinet Minister, as a merger of the Fijian Political Party , the Fijian Association Party, the Christian Democratic Alliance, and the New Labour...
under the leadership of Filipe Bole
Filipe Bole
Filipe Nagera Bole is a Fijian politician who hails from the village of Mualevu on the island of Vanuabalavu in the Lau Group. He has long had a reputation as one of Fiji's few politicians untainted by scandal, and is noted for his moderate views...
. In April 2005, this party dissolved itself in order to merge with the newly formed National Alliance Party of Fiji
National Alliance Party of Fiji
The National Alliance Party of Fiji is a Fijian political party. It was formally registered on 18 January 2005 by Ratu Epeli Ganilau, as the claimed successor to the defunct Alliance Party, which ruled Fiji from 1967 to 1987 under the leadership of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ganilau's...
, founded by Ratu Epeli Ganilau
Epeli Ganilau
Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji. His career has previously encompassed such roles as Commander of the Fiji Military Forces and Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga...
. A rump of the FAP continues, under the leadership of Ratu Inoke Seru.