austraLasia #1771

Fiji army chief promises 'peaceful transition' if he makes the move

SUVA: 1st December 2006 --  After the joyful events, Salesianwise, of last weekend's diaconate ordination as reported in austraLasia #1697, the Fijian archipelago is being put to the test  - events possibly not widely reported outside the Asia-Pacific region.  There has been a long-simmering dispute between the elected Government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, and the Army commander, Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama.  The latter yesterday made the extraordinary pre-announcement of a coup to topple the Government 'peacefully' if it did not respond to his demands which include the removal of certain bills from parliament affecting land and sea ownership (Fijian villagers depend very much on their right to fish in waters immediately off the coast), the removal of the Police Chief, an Australian by the name of Andrew Hughes, and a declaration that the 2000 Coup and a subsequent military mutiny were wrong.
    The deadline for the Fiji military takeover was two hours ago as this item is being written - and it is Friday evening in Suva.  As can only happen in Fiji, the army and the police have a rugby game this evening, and both groups will be either celebrating or commiserating their win-lose over a bowl of yaqona (a local beverage), so it is unlikely any coup will take place this evening. The police chief is on leave in Australia and has been advised for his safety not to return just yet. He has already instructed the force not to take any steps to oppose a military takeover since 'it would be suicidal to do so', and has told the Government he cannot guarantee their safety. It would appear that the Fijian President is backing the military demands.  As usual, there is much more behind this than meets the eye. Hughes put it correctly when he told Australian media that 'it is Fijian politics raging in the background'.
    Just for the record, Fiji has had three - or is it four - coups in recent years; one loses count. There was the 1987 coup by Major General Rabuka, also head of the military at that time. He subsequently moved into politics as a civilian and lost office democratically. He had two bites at the cherry (two coups, in fact). Then came George Speight who is still occupying his island prison off Suva lagoon. He was imprisoned for his civilian coup in 2000 but the coup itself was never declared to be wrong. Then there was an attempted coup which involved internal army politics and a mutiny during which a number on both sides of the dispute were killed. A priest who was with soldiers at the time as a chaplain and psychologist became mysteriously ill some time later from what doctors have concluded was a blow to the head, and has never fully recovered.
    For the ordinary people, and indeed for the Salesian community in Suva, these events can mean disruption to daily life, though rarely danger to human life. There was an element of racial strife in the 2000 coup but despite what anybody may claim publicly, it was not the main reason for the coup - again it was Fijian politics raging in the background and goes back to the time Chief Cakobau 'handed over' Fiji to Queen Victoria and Britain, or indeed before that time.
    Fortunately, schools and tertiary institutes, including the seminary, are at the end of the year, and the tertiary places have already closed.
    It would be worth keeping an eye on the news over the weekend. Hughes believes there will be a coup.  This writer thinks not - but the government may change just the same!
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