6 Dec 2007

Fiji's military to monitor adherence to proposed charter, says Bainimarama

12:15 pm on 6 December 2007

Fiji's military ruler has warned the military will ensure that future governments strictly adhere to its proposed People's Charter for Progress and Change.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama told Radio Legend the military will be the guardian of the charter, which is being developed by the interim regime to provide policy direction for Fiji's future governments.

The Interim Prime Minister said the military will make sure no one steps out of line.

Critics of the charter include the Fiji Law Society, at least half of the 14 Fijian Provincial Councils and Fiji's most popular political party in the 2006 election.

The ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's SDL said they will not be bound by the Charter if re-elected in the March 2009 polls because it is initiated by an "unconstitutional" regime.

But the military is adamant that the Charter is the main document that will take Fiji forward what it calls from race-based politics.

Commodore Bainimarama said the Charter will also propose a new voting systemthat will weed out Fiji's institutionalised racial divisions.