They are scared to face the judgement of all Fijians.

That's Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's comment regarding some pro democracy campaigners who do not want the 2013 Constitution.

Commodore Bainimarama says these old politicians do not want equal votes of equal value as they held their positions in the past due to people voting under an ethnic based electoral system.

The Prime Minister has told Radio Tarana that the politicians will now have to appeal to everyone and they are terrified of that and scared to face the judgement of all Fijians.

Meanwhile senior member of the Social Democratic and Liberal Party, Doctor Tupeni Baba said they are not against the one man one vote system.

He said SODELPA is not the one that delayed the election.


Doctor Baba said SODELPA is not terrified of the new system and the party only wants a free and fair election.

Meanwhile Commodore Bainimarama has described a softening in New Zealand's position on the Fijian government as insincere, unneeded and too late.

Last week, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced a programme of electoral assistance and the easing of some sanctions, describing them as recognition that progress that has been made in Fiji and that Fiji needs support for free and fair elections.

But Commodore Bainimarama has told Radio Tarana those words have come too late.


The New Zealand government has decided to reinstate 10 post graduate scholarships for Fijian students which were suspended in 2006. 

He said they have also agreed to formally revoke the sporting sanctions instituted in 2006. 
 
However he said individual bans will still apply to members of teams who are caught by the sanctions on members of the Fijian government and the military.

McCully added over recent months the New Zealand government has eased the operation of the travel sanctions, leaving them in place for key Fijian government and military members but easing the process around family members of less senior figures. 

Story by: Vijay Narayan