OCEANIA/FIJI ISLANDS - New Constitution and general elections in 2009, local Catholic Church called in to help

Suva (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church in Fiji will participate in the moral and civil reconstruction of the country which is starting a progress of normalisation after travailed years of civil war which caused serious social, political and economic damage. One member of the Popular Council composed to draft a new Constitution, is the Catholic Archbishop of Suva, Archbishop Petero Mataca whose task will be to ensure the Constitution respects the inalienable dignity and rights of the human person.
Another member of the Council is prime minister Frank Bainimarma and a wide representation of Fiji's civil society. The Council has 40 members and its task is to rebuild Fiji “as a plural nation, culturally united and active, well governed, authentically democratic, which strives for development and prosperity through merits based on equal opportunities for all citizens”.
The Premier explained that the Council will “draft an informative paper on the state of the nation with a complete diagnosis of the nature and profundity of the country's problems”. Then, having acquired awareness of the reasons which in the past led to conflict and poverty, the Council will begin to elaborate the Constitution which should guarantee the country a new era of peace, democracy and prosperity.
Premier Frank Bainimarama, who is also Chief of the Armed Forces, and took power with a bloodless coup in 2006, promised that in 2009 there will be general elections the results of which he is ready to accept.
Recently at a meeting of the 16 member countries of Pacific Island Forum Mr Bainimarama, reaffirmed his commitment to lead the country to real democracy. His statement was welcomed by the other members of the Forum. There were positive reactions in Australia and New Zealand, which after the coup imposed economic sanctions on Fiji, and which they said they are ready to revoke. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/10/2007 righe 27 parole 271)