Fiji's UPP party dissolves

Updated January 28, 2013 16:06:56

Tough new restrictions on political parties in Fiji, has forced the United People's Party to officially dissolve.

Fiji's military government has introduced laws forcing a ban on parties with fewer than 5000 members and restricting union members involvement in politics.

UPP members are being encouraged to decide for themselves if they wish to join any of the existing parties.

Party leader, Mick Beddoes, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat it would be impossible for the parties to meet to tough new guidelines.

"This decree has come into play basically making it as difficult as possible for anyone to comply so we decided to activate the resolution that we made and wind the party up."

Fiji's mainly indigenous i-Taukei political party, the SDL, has also officially dissolved but reformed under a new name.

At a meeting on Friday the former Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua was wound up and replaced by a new party, the Social Democratic and Liberal Party.

Ro Teimumu Kepa, the Roko Tui Dreketi, or Paramount Chief of Dreketi and head of the Burebasaga Confederacy, and patron of the SDL party, says it is more than just a simple change of name.

The assets of the party will need to be wound up.

"We are in a vacuum now moving from the old to the new."

Topics: government-and-politics, foreign-affairs, forms-of-government, fiji

First posted January 28, 2013 15:58:44