Fiji: You can only have democracy if you don't vote Lefty

[Rob Schaap <bantam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

THE AGE Source: AFP|Published: Thursday September 6, 3:26 PM

  SUVA - Deposed Fijian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry today refused to
concede defeat in the Pacific island nations's general elections and alleged
there had been widespread vote-rigging.

  "I suspect that there has been a widespread attempt to rig votes and
influence the results of the 2001 elections," Chaudhry told reporters as the
vote count went on.

  He urged United Nations and Commonwealth observers, who have been monitoring
the polls aimed at restoring democracy after the May, 2000 coup which deposed
him, to take action.

  The results of the week-long polls, which ended on Sunday, should not be
certified as free and fair "until questions raised have been thoroughly
investigated and explained," he said.

  Chaudhry, the country's first Indian prime minister ousted in a
race-inspired coup by indigenous Fijians, predicted that a coalition
government was likely to emerge from the elections.

  "No party has yet got a clear lead and it is highly unlikely that it will
happen," he said, without saying whether his Fiji Labour Party was in talks
with any of the other parties to form a coalition.

  He added it was unlikely that there would be a new government until next
week at the earliest. Intense horse trading was going on today behind the
scenes.

  The nationalist Conservative Alliance/Matanitu Vanua (MV) of coup leader
George Speight has emerged as holding the balance of power with six seats so
far confirmed in the 71-seat assembly..

  With only nine seats left to declare, Chaudhry's Fiji Labour Party (FLP) had
27 seats and the new Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) of caretaker
premier Laisenia Qarase had 23.

  Three smaller parties and two independants had also been elected, along with
new member for Rotuma, a Polynesian island north of here.