WEHRFRITZ: Are you safe? CHAUDHRY: There is still a threat to my security. I cannot stay in one place for too long, so I have to be on the move until the situation stabilizes. This is not as one would expect in a democratic country.
Does the arrest of coup leader George Speight spell the end of Fiji’s political crisis? These are early days, and it is difficult to say what will happen. Although he and his main supporters have been put under detention, the whole crisis has a racial [dimension]. The people of Indian origin here have been particularly targeted for violence. They’ve had their properties taken over, burned and looted. Now [the military and interim government] are saying that they will appoint a constitutional review commission which, in all probability, will [write] a racially weighted constitution. I don’t think we’ve seen the end of the crisis here.
Any chance your democratically elected government will be returned to power? Are you demanding this? That’s the position we have taken. Of course, we have been warned by the unconstitutionally appointed interim administration that should we persist, we will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
How do you hope to restore the rights of Fiji’s Indian minority? Right now, according to the military and interim administration, Fiji has no constitution. Restoring the political rights of Indian people looks to be an uphill battle. All indications are that there will be a racially weighted constitution. The only way equal political rights can be granted to all people of Fiji would be through international intervention through organizations like the United Nations and the Commonwealth secretariat, as well as regional groups here in the Pacific.
What pressure might they bring to bear? They could play a useful role through mediation, to try to have a government of national unity appointed. Already they have made it very clear that if Fiji does not put an acceptable government in place and prescribe a clear timetable for a return to democracy, then they will isolate Fiji, just as they have done since the coup. We now have a government which definitely is not representative at all.
Your supporters say you will visit Australia this week. Are you fleeing for your safety? I’m going mainly for medical reasons. I am quite weak at the moment, because in captivity I was eating only one meal a day. I’ve lost considerable weight, and to regain my strength, I have been advised by my doctors here to go and have a full medical [checkup]. Of course, I suppose there will be discussions with the Australian government. I’ll decide from there what I will do. But my first priority is to regain my health and continue with the work we have to do in order to restore democracy in Fiji.
Do you fear being forced into permanent exile? Might the military or interim government block your return? That’s a possibility that cannot be overlooked.
Have you sought a guarantee that this won’t happen? No, I have not. I don’t think I need to, because I am a citizen of this country and was born here. I have a right to re-enter.
Will Fiji ever return to democratic rule? We have had three coups in the last 13 years. Each time the ethnic-Indian community, which now constitutes about 44 percent of the population, has been targeted. It is very unfortunate that there are elements in our society who do not want to see a multiracial government succeed here. For the moment, the prospects look bleak.
