Stop the rot in Fiji
IT doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what’s wrong with Fiji, and its politics.
Another coup, and eight years later, another election, and the coup leader could again become a “legalised” Prime Minister should the outcome of the election be in his favour.
Sitiveni Rabuka carried out two military coups within six months of each other in 1987, and went on to become an “elected” Prime Minister of the island nation after changing the constitution.
Along came George Speight and his band of thugs in 2000 and removed the elected government of Mahendra Chaudhry, and held the Prime Minister and 35 others captive for more than 50 days until he was forcibly removed by Army chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Speight is in jail serving a life sentence.
Six years later, Bainimarama himself ousted the elected government of Laisenia Qarase, and appointed himself Prime Minister of the interim military government which is still in power eight years on.
In six months’ time, Bainimarama himself will be contesting the election following a complete overhaul of the 1997 constitution, and is confident that he will be victorious in the September poll and then he can “legally” continue extending the policies of the military government he heads.
What if he doesn’t win the Prime Ministership? While he has stepped down as Army commander, who will the Army back after the polls?
Bainimarama doesn’t even have a political party set up while his opponents have hit an early election trail.
The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA, formerly the SDL), has already made it clear that it will turn back the clock and “right the wrongs of the past seven years”, which could even lead to Bainimarama and his men facing the courts of law.
It has been said hundreds of times before and it needs to be said again: The culture of coups started off 27 years ago is what is wrong with Fiji.
Only if the armed forces are kept in their barracks will the country break out of this self-destructive cycle.
Unfortunately, that realisation has yet to dawn on the leaders of the military, who cling to the idea that they must forever be the saviours of the nation.
Putting it bluntly, picking up a gun to force your people into submission is akin to domestic violence in society, a blatant use of brawn. Remember those ads in the media which boldly declare “Violence is NOT okay”?
In the many articles on Fiji in this issue of the Indian Weekender, there is mention of poor leadership rife in the country – giving rise to more of the same.
It is time for traditional and political leaders to come together and decide once and for all that the military remain non-political and will only mobilise in the service of the people.
The onus is now on the new head of the Fiji Military Forces, Brigadier Mosese Tikoitoga, to stand firm in his leadership and commitment to the elected government of the day.
This could herald the dawn of a new era in the country once known as “the way the world should be”.
IT doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what’s wrong with Fiji, and its politics. Another coup, and eight years later, another election, and the coup leader could again become a “legalised” Prime Minister should the outcome of the election be in his favour. Sitiveni Rabuka carried out two...
IT doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what’s wrong with Fiji, and its politics.
Another coup, and eight years later, another election, and the coup leader could again become a “legalised” Prime Minister should the outcome of the election be in his favour.
Sitiveni Rabuka carried out two military coups within six months of each other in 1987, and went on to become an “elected” Prime Minister of the island nation after changing the constitution.
Along came George Speight and his band of thugs in 2000 and removed the elected government of Mahendra Chaudhry, and held the Prime Minister and 35 others captive for more than 50 days until he was forcibly removed by Army chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Speight is in jail serving a life sentence.
Six years later, Bainimarama himself ousted the elected government of Laisenia Qarase, and appointed himself Prime Minister of the interim military government which is still in power eight years on.
In six months’ time, Bainimarama himself will be contesting the election following a complete overhaul of the 1997 constitution, and is confident that he will be victorious in the September poll and then he can “legally” continue extending the policies of the military government he heads.
What if he doesn’t win the Prime Ministership? While he has stepped down as Army commander, who will the Army back after the polls?
Bainimarama doesn’t even have a political party set up while his opponents have hit an early election trail.
The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA, formerly the SDL), has already made it clear that it will turn back the clock and “right the wrongs of the past seven years”, which could even lead to Bainimarama and his men facing the courts of law.
It has been said hundreds of times before and it needs to be said again: The culture of coups started off 27 years ago is what is wrong with Fiji.
Only if the armed forces are kept in their barracks will the country break out of this self-destructive cycle.
Unfortunately, that realisation has yet to dawn on the leaders of the military, who cling to the idea that they must forever be the saviours of the nation.
Putting it bluntly, picking up a gun to force your people into submission is akin to domestic violence in society, a blatant use of brawn. Remember those ads in the media which boldly declare “Violence is NOT okay”?
In the many articles on Fiji in this issue of the Indian Weekender, there is mention of poor leadership rife in the country – giving rise to more of the same.
It is time for traditional and political leaders to come together and decide once and for all that the military remain non-political and will only mobilise in the service of the people.
The onus is now on the new head of the Fiji Military Forces, Brigadier Mosese Tikoitoga, to stand firm in his leadership and commitment to the elected government of the day.
This could herald the dawn of a new era in the country once known as “the way the world should be”.
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