will fiji become the zimbabwe of the south pacific?

[antaeus]

not sure if you guys from up north are following what's been happening in fiji... but it's starting to get a little worrying...

they've suffered a few military takeovers in the last few decades... the most recent in 2006 when frank bainimarama, the head of the military stood in and took control over the place... chiefly in reaction to the leniency given to a group of people involved in a previous coup attempt..

he's been under pressure from pacific and commonwealth nations to restore democracy... but it all seems to be going down hill.. foreign diplomats and journalists have been ejected or arrested... police beatings have occurred... and most recently, as bainimarama tried to rebuild the countries government, the courts have found his attempts illegal.

in the last week he has suspended pretty much all human rights, disbanded the courts, sacked his government and assumed personal control, given the police the right to shoot on site, and placed government officers in tv studios and newspapers.. in response, lawyers and judges have refused to be sacked and are going in to work anyway, newspapers are publishing blank pages in protest and the tv news has been broadcasting dead air with the statement "this article has been removed by government censorship"...

[KingLarsofMars]

Yes they will. It's a matter of time.

And whats worse... The New Zealand and Australian governments are sitting on their arses doing nothing because they're too chickenshit too!!! If I were John Key (NZ PM) then I would have told him to either do as we say or face invasion from a international task force. It's in our area, we should be doing more to try and fix the situation...

Of course the UN is too chicken as well so it would be a ANZAC force...

(To tell you all the truth, a while back after our diplomats were kicked out we were effectively told to stay out or face war...)

[Pious Agnost]

John Key, invade something?

If only...

[KingLarsofMars]

John Key, invade something?

If only...

Sadly...

Someone should ask Rodney Hide about what he thinks seeing he thinks he's a know it all!

(Secretly I think he runs the show )

[Richard]

John Key, invade something?

If only...

Well, we do have all these useless soldiers sitting around doing nothing but having the government (that is, us, our taxpayer dollars) paying for their engineering degree and feeding them...

Still, it's a damn good time to visit the country. And I mean, it's FIJI for Christ's sake. It's one of those "joke" countries. You're not going to get shot, and it's not falling apart in anarchy. It's just being oppressed by a who will pay you no attention anyway. So basically same as usual, but cheaper.

[ManKinD]

Yes they will. It's a matter of time.

And whats worse... The New Zealand and Australian governments are sitting on their arses doing nothing because they're too chickenshit too!!! If I were John Key (NZ PM) then I would have told him to either do as we say or face invasion from a international task force. It's in our area, we should be doing more to try and fix the situation...

Of course the UN is too chicken as well so it would be a ANZAC force...

(To tell you all the truth, a while back after our diplomats were kicked out we were effectively told to stay out or face war...)

The Fijians used to be cannibals they'll eat the UN alive

I love Fiji and as an Australian I think we should but out , only unless violence occurs such as in Thailand (another great Australian holiday destination) - Oh no I think there is a pattern emerging

If Australia & NZ puts sanctions on FIJI - the only people who will be hurt is the friendly people of Fiji -
For now the people arent complaining we should take the wait and see approach

[KingLarsofMars]

The Fijians used to be cannibals they'll eat the UN alive

I love Fiji and as an Australian I think we should but out , only unless violence occurs such as in Thailand (another great Australian holiday destination) - Oh no I think there is a pattern emerging

If Australia & NZ puts sanctions on FIJI - the only people who will be hurt is the friendly people of Fiji -
For now the people arent complaining we should take the wait and see approach

Very true. Of course with the food shortages they are having our governments could use it as leverage....

What do you mean the people ain't complaining? Every night on the news we hear stories about the hardship and the people who have been imprisoned for not agreeing with the rulers...

More worrying new reports tonight about both the violence in Thailand and Fuji...

[black-dragon]

Yes they will. It's a matter of time.

And whats worse... The New Zealand and Australian governments are sitting on their arses doing nothing because they're too chickenshit too!!!

I don't think we have the means, either. I believe that our army consists of only 30,000 light infantry, light tanks, and other stuff not suitable for invasions.

[Il Soprano]

It certainly looks that way. But I don't think it will have any impact of global significance like Zimbabwe. Fiji is a small island nation with only minor international influence. We are under-represented enough here in the South Pacific so one will really know or particularly care about what is happening in Fiji now or in the past. For those that do:

2006 military takeover

Citing corruption in the government, Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, staged a military takeover on December 5, 2006 against the Prime Minister that he himself had installed after the 2000 coup. There had been two military coups in 1987 and one in 2000 when the military had taken over from elected governments led by or dominated by Indo Fijians. On this occasion the military took over from an indigenous Fijian government which it alleged was corrupt and racist. The commodore took over the powers of the presidency and dissolved the parliament, paving the way for the military to continue the take over.
The coup was the culmination of weeks of speculation following conflict between the elected Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, and Commodore Bainimarama. Bainamarama had repeatedly issued demands and deadlines to the Prime Minister. At particular issue was previously pending legislation to pardon those involved in the 2000 coup. Despite intervention to reconcile the parties by the President, Vice President and Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand there was no willingness to make concessions on either side. This therefore failed to resolve the crisis.
Bainimarama named Jona Senilagakali caretaker Prime Minister. The next week Bainimarama said he would ask the Great Council of Chiefs to restore executive powers to President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.[7] On December 6, Bainimarama declared a state of emergency, and warned that he would not tolerate any violence or unrest.
Following the coup, the Commonwealth of Nations held an emergency meeting in London, where they declared Fiji's membership had been suspended. On December 9, the military rulers advertised for positions in the Government, including cabinet posts, in a national newspaper. They stated people wishing to apply must be "of outstanding character", have no criminal record, and never have been bankrupt.[8]
Also on December 9 the IFNA withdrew the right of Fiji to host the 2007 World Netball Championships as a consequence of the Military takeover. The withdrawal is expected to have a significant impact in Fiji due to the popularity of the sport.
On January 4, 2007, the military announced that it was restoring executive power to President Iloilo,[9] who made a broadcast endorsing the actions of the military.[10] The next day, Iloilo named Bainimarama as the interim Prime Minister,[11] indicating that the Military was still effectively in control.
In the wake of the take over, reports have emerged of intimidation of some of those critical of the interim regime. It is alleged that two individuals have died in military custody since December 2006. These deaths have been investigated and suspects charged but not yet brought to court.
Following ongoing criticism from neighbours, specifically Australia and New Zealand, the New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green was expelled from Fiji in mid June 2007, in the aftermath of restrictive emergency regulations having been lifted (recognised as a generally positive development by outside observers).
On September 6, 2007, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said Fiji's military declared again a state of emergency as he believed ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was engaged in destabilization efforts when he returned to Suva after 8 months of exile on his home island Vanuabalavu in Lau, Elections were tentatively set on March 2009.[12]
The interim Government set up an anti corruption Commission which have received numerous complaints and allegations, also there have been a number of high profile dismissals from government and associated industry. The anti corruption body however, has yet to successfully prosecute anyone for alleged corruption.
During November 2007 there were a number of people brought in for questioning in regard to an assassination plot directed at the Interim Prime Minister, senior army officers and members of the Interim Cabinet.
On April 9, 2009, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision that Bainimarama's take-over of Qarase's government was legal, and declared the Interim Government illegal. Bainimarama agreed to step down as Interim PM immediately, along with his government, and President Iloilo was to appoint "a distinguished person independent of the parties to this litigation as caretaker Prime Minister, ..... to direct the issuance of writs for an election ..." .
On April 10, 2009, President Iloilo suspended the Constitution of Fiji, dismissed the Court of Appeal and appointed himself Head of State. "You will agree with me that this is the best way forward for our beloved Fiji", he said. Bainimarama was re-appointed as Interim Prime Minister, who then in turn, re-instated his previous Cabinet.

[boofhead]

This is all a result of mass-immigration of Indians and Chinese who effectively disenfranchised the Fijian natives and their elders. I'd be pissed off too. Democracy doesn't really work when the natives are a large minority unless they get special benefits, and these crises are just a reflection of that, essentially.

[Burnum]

The Fijian Coup had nothing too do with ethnic Nationalism, it was a desperate grab for money and power. This Government will drive away all the educated Fijians, to Ironically, Australia and New Zealand.

This is all a result of mass-immigration of Indians and Chinese who effectively disenfranchised the Fijian natives and their elders. I'd be pissed off too. Democracy doesn't really work when the natives are a large minority unless they get special benefits, and these crises are just a reflection of that, essentially.

How hypocritical, considering that almost all of the Indians immigrated the 1800's. They're as Fijian, as you are Australian. Democracy works, worked in Fiji. The government that was overthrown, was a multiracial coalition of parties designed to represent all Fijian's interests.

in Fiji the natives make up around 40% I believe

Wrong, they make up 60% of the population. Still a majority.

[Arjun]

The Fijian Coup had nothing too do with ethnic Nationalism, it was a desperate grab for money and power. This Government will drive away all the educated Fijians, to Ironically, Australia and New Zealand.

boofhead has this habit of explaining away everything regardless of the factual accuracy of his explanations. he would rather have the fijians under the military jackboot of a dictator and dwell in mud huts instead of being part of a democratic process

i woudl not be surprised if he comes forward and claims that the military takeover is but a nationalizsitc revolution viva la liberacion!

How hypocritical, considering that almost all of the Indians immigrated the 1800's. They're as Fijian, as you are Australian. Democracy works, worked in Fiji. The government that was overthrown, was a multiracial coalition of parties designed to represent all Fijian's interests.

Wrong, they make up 60% of the population. Still a majority.

indeed, as an aboriginal Australian you would see the dripping hypocracy in his post. but that guy is so blind that he wont even know hypocracy even when it hits him in his face

[Arjun]

I would suggest that the Indians threaten to leave the country; it would bankrupt Fiji within months
they can have the island all for themselves...and maybe even go back to their hunter-gather type of life or whatever. Im sure they would love it

[boofhead]

I would suggest that the Indians threaten to leave the country; it would bankrupt Fiji within months
they can have the island all for themselves...and maybe even go back to their hunter-gather type of life or whatever. Im sure they would love it

I'm sure many Fijians would prefer it. They'd still make hundreds of millions from tourism.

[Arjun]

I'm sure many Fijians would prefer it. They'd still make hundreds of millions from tourism.

of course...might be fun though...not having working utilities...or rather people who run them....not having any worthwhile educational institutions/teachers....sure it would be a tourist's paradise all right. no doubt about it.

would taken them at least 2 or 3 generations to even work their way to where they were before the Indians left. but then again..if people are willing to shoot their own foot ,what can others do about it?


ps: and if you think that the military would let go of its power..good luck with that. this is going to be the classic case of jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

[boofhead]

of course...might be fun though...not having working utilities...or rather people who run them....not having any worthwhile educational institutions/teachers....sure it would be a tourist's paradise all right. no doubt about it.

would taken them at least 2 or 3 generations to even work their way to where they were before the Indians left. but then again..if people are willing to shoot their own foot ,what can others do about it?

My half-brother's got a Chinese-Fijian mother. He goes there all the time - his grandma and extended family still live in huts and grow their own vegetables and do their own fishing. It's the Indians and Chinese generally who have the more modern lifestyles. So I doubt much would change at all for most.

[Arjun]

My half-brother's got a Chinese-Fijian mother. He goes there all the time - his grandma and extended family still live in huts and grow their own vegetables and do their own fishing. It's the Indians and Chinese generally who have the more modern lifestyles. So I doubt much would change at all for most.

and what would happen to the national reserve/economy when these people leave? dont you realize that the livelihoods of many fijians might depend on the relative wealth of the Indians/Chinese? where will those people go for jobs? ...maybe more tourists would somehow materialize during this world-economic slowdown?

and what about the fijians military?..i can visualize military junta rule for the foreseeable future of this comes to be

Democracy doesn't really work when the natives are a large minority unless they get special benefits, and these crises are just a reflection of that, essentially.

lol..thats hilarious. so its A-ok to colonize countries and rule over the natives as long as the natives are driven almost to extinction/hugely outnumbered? . its ironic that NZ and AUS are right next to these people....places where the exact same thing happened..permanently!


ps: i vaguely rem you making some silly comment about the CEylon/Srilanka ethnic issue a while back(confusing Indian Tamils with Native lankan Tamils or something along those lines)..dont rem what.

[ManKinD]

I would suggest that the Indians threaten to leave the country; it would bankrupt Fiji within months
they can have the island all for themselves...and maybe even go back to their hunter-gather type of life or whatever. Im sure they would love it

It so sad that cultures and peoples lives are dictated by money and greed - The Fijians are a simple people who enjoy "keeping it real" - They love their culture and lifestyle - why should they change it for anybody! and as a Fijian elder told me - its all about "Bulla Time" not "Western Time" here.

[boofhead]

Why? Because the military are the ones in power at the moment and they've already threatened us with war (hard to believe but it was a effective off or we declare war statement a few months back)

LOL I missed that piece of news. I have changed my mind. Send in the SAS to spank their naughty bottoms.

[Lord Feloric's Ambassador]

My Lord sees an easy solution. Simply blockade the tiny islands until the provincial military government surrenders. It's hard to make money on tourism when tourists can't get to the islands.