PM pays tribute to Fiji's father of politics

By HELEN TUNNAH deputy political editor

Prime Minister Helen Clark has extended New Zealand's sympathy to Fiji over the death of the leader known as the country's "grand old man" of politics, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

She said he would be remembered as the father of independent Fiji and the Pacific and as a man who commanded respect internationally.

"Ratu Mara was a High Chief and a distinguished leader of Fiji. He had a presence and impact that extended beyond his country as one of the Pacific region's most influential statesmen."

Ratu Mara, 83, who had been ill for several years, died in a private hospital in Suva on Sunday. He had recently been to New Zealand for medical treatment.

Helen Clark said it was likely New Zealand would be represented at a senior level at Ratu Mara's funeral.

"On behalf of New Zealand, I extend our condolences to his family and to the Government and people of Fiji."

Former Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, who was ousted in the 2000 coup, said last night that Ratu Mara had been a man of vision, completely committed to his country.

"We've lost a great man," he told Fiji Television.

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase announced Ratu Mara's death to the nation by saying: "The High Chief and great leader who was the father of our nation is no more.

"Now this country he served so selflessly will unite in its grief and through its tears and memories. We have lost a giant among men."

He said Ratu Mara would be given a state funeral after arrangements were agreed to with his family.

A former New Zealand diplomat in Suva and the head of the Pacific Co-operation Foundation, Vince McBride, said Ratu Mara's death signified the passing of one of the great figures of Pacific history and politics.

He said the Mara dynasty included the links of his paramount chief wife, Ro Adi Lady Lala Mara, and meant he had ties throughout Fiji's elite. He was the force in Fiji's politics for decades.

Ratu Mara became Chief Minister in 1967 and was the country's first Prime Minister after independence in 1970.

He effectively kept the job for 22 years, despite losing the 1977 election - he was controversially recalled when it was declared the winning National Federation Party could not form a government - and the 1987 elections.

After former soldier Sitiveni Rabuka toppled the elected 1987 Government, Ratu Mara agreed to serve as interim Prime Minister in a caretaker Government.

He became President in 1993, but was mysteriously forced to quit 10 days after George Speight's 2000 coup.

Exactly what happened is not known, but Ratu Mara was forced out of Suva and back to his spiritual home at Lakeba in the Lau Group as the constitution was suspended and martial law imposed.

He later suffered the first of several strokes and was seldom seen in public.

Mr McBride, who worked in Fiji in 1987 and was Deputy High Commissioner from 1994 to 1997, said he had always wished that Ratu Mara would tell the story of both the Rabuka and Speight coups.

"There are some who would speculate that Ratu Mara must have, should have, may have known about the [1987] coup.

"But he always denied it and I think he needs to be taken at his word as he was an honourable man."