An 8 January 1999 Radio Australia emission states:

Fiji's main opposition party has threatened to enforce the new 1997 Constitution with legal action, unless the government corrects racial imbalances in recent civil service appointments. The National Federation Party [NFP], along with the opposition Labour Party, has accused the government of racial discrimination in the civil service.

The Public Service Commission announced a reshuffle of diplomatic postings and permanent secretaries this week. NFP general secretary, Attar Singh, says the party is concerned with the promotion and appointment of Indian civil servants to top positions. He says under Fiji's 1997 Constitution, the Public Service Commission is responsible for ensuring racial parity at all levels of the civil service.

No additional information on the situation of Indo-Fijians in Fiji, nor on the treatment by the Labour Party of Indo-Fijians who do not support the party, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Radio Australia [Melbourne, in English]. 8 January 1999. "Fiji: Fiji Opposition Threatens to Enforce Constitution By law." (FBIS-EAS-99-008 8 Jan. 1999/WNC)

Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, NEXIS/LEXIS, REFWORLD, WNC.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.