"Coup" going on in Fiji

**Fenris** · December 05, 2006, 02:27 AM

And I was there three days ago. But believe me, except in the capital, Suva, there is nothing going on. I spent a few days in Nadi and only realised when I saw the newspaper talking only about that. And as for the islands, the people living there probably don't even know there's a coup going on... I don't even know if they know there is a government in the first place...

But anyways, Fiji is extremely nice, and if you were planning a trip there, don't cancel, the planes land in Nadi, which is far from Suva (which is the only place where there is anything happening and I really doubt there will be any violence), and if you are still scared, go on the islands, you won't even hear a thing about it besides maybe from some travellers.

Cheers.

**RusskiSoldat** · December 05, 2006, 04:28 PM

This is the politest coup ever.
I've never heard of a general giving the government several days' notice, and then slowly blockading it's offices, refusing to arrest or shoot anyone.

**Fenris** · December 05, 2006, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by RusskiSoldat

This is the politest coup ever.
I've never heard of a general giving the government several days' notice, and then slowly blockading it's offices, refusing to arrest or shoot anyone.

My point, exactly.

You hear the media being all crazy about it, just like some foerign nations, but if your actually there, you realise it's just some stuff happening in the government's building and will only affect people who voted for that president but are mad that he's being putshed.

It's like some guy who was in Egypt during the last terrorist attack, he said he was watching medias and stuff who were panicking and were almost trying to tell that it was total chaos in Egypt, but the guy was like... it totally wasn't like that...

Just shows media sensationalism far outweights reality. They need an exciting story...

**Erik** · December 05, 2006, 05:16 PM

I didn't know it was so peaceful.
I experienced a coup attempt in Mali once, and it was pretty scary.
It didn't really influence daily life that much, but I heard a few policemen were lynched and there were soldiers everywhere and they weren't exactly friendly.

I do like the reason for this coup: the military commander didn't like how the last coup went.
And this is their 4th coup in 19 years.
Will they have another coup in 2011?
This way they don't need elections: whoever wins the coup gets to serve 5 years till the next coup, lol.

**Fenris** · December 05, 2006, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

I didn't know it was so peaceful.
I experienced a coup attempt in Mali once, and it was pretty scary.
It didn't really influence daily life that much, but I heard a few policemen were lynched and there were soldiers everywhere and they weren't exactly friendly.

I do like the reason for this coup: the military commander didn't like how the last coup went.
And this is their 4th coup in 19 years.
Will they have another coup in 2011?
This way they don't need elections: whoever wins the coup gets to serve 5 years till the next coup, lol.

Please, put coup between " ".

The last ''coup'' was denounced as a violent one, and there was actually only one casualty.

And the reason for the "coup" is not exactly this. He says that there is corruption in the government and the commander in chief is against a project of law that would redeem the people who did the last coup, which threatened the commander's life. There is also some hostility between natives (50% of the population) and indo-fijians (40% of the population). And it is the main reason for pretty much all the coups that happened.

And the present government was elected democratically.

**Farnan** · December 05, 2006, 05:59 PM

Why can't all coups be like that...

**lawngnome** · December 05, 2006, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Farnan

Why can't all coups be like that...

Because most "coups" happen in places where there are more than a few dozen people in the 'capital' city

Pacific islands have very sketchy governments... population is so dispersed and so uninterested in 'government' that the few that are actually engaged in the process can rule quite unopposed. Yet how much power do they really have? Those islands should just be ruled through a tribal system... probably would work better...

**Fenris** · December 05, 2006, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by lawngnome

Because most "coups" happen in places where there are more than a few dozen people in the 'capital' city

Pacific islands have very sketchy governments... population is so dispersed and so uninterested in 'government' that the few that are actually engaged in the process can rule quite unopposed. Yet how much power do they really have? Those islands should just be ruled through a tribal system... probably would work better...

Actually there are tons of small villages with a chief of the village and government is imperciptible in those villages. And I loved spending some time in a village where you just feel people are a community. And crime rate must be around 0% there... people are just relaxed always smiling, and they will say hello just because you walked near them, children are playing and they interrupt their game to say hello with a big smile (hello is bula, in fijian). Police come once in a while in a boat, and basically do nothing but drink a beer with some people, because there is nothing else to do for them. Very great place Fiji is.

**LoZz** · December 05, 2006, 06:36 PM

well their was that military coup a month or two ago in was it thiland or tiwan? i cant remember, somewhere around their and that was not violent ether.

i realy like these new style coups!

**Fenris** · December 05, 2006, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by LoZz

well their was that military coup a month or two ago in was it thiland or tiwan? i cant remember, somewhere around their and that was not violent ether.

i realy like these new style coups!

Yes, it was in Thailand. I remember I was watching in direct the UN reunion, when the Thai prime-minister left and reports of the army and tanks being in the street came, and they were trying to figure out what was happening... all in direct, that was kind of exciting.

But yeah, anyways, in Fiji, there CANNOT be violence. Australia has some boats stationned arouns and the islands are so dependant on tourism, that even this pacific coup is a hard blow to their economy. And anyways, both parties want to keep things pretty civil.

And in both of those coups, all the military was on the same side against a controversial government, so...

**scottishranger** · December 05, 2006, 07:38 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16043928/

There is the msn article on the coup. I actually find this a pretty interesting coup. As said before this is one of the few coups where the leader actually gives them a few days notice of their removal.

All in all this has been a fairly good year for coups, mainly they have been bloodless and nice.(Can't speak for all them though

**eltrevo** · December 05, 2006, 08:35 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Fi..._d%27%C3%A9tat

Its official. The military rules.

**mrjesushat** · December 05, 2006, 10:15 PM

I guess this is what happens when there's a coup in vacation-land.

Either that, or these people need to be taught how to properly overthrow a government. Haven't they read that you're supposed to commit all manner of atrocities and brutally eliminate all proscribed parties?

Honestly, what's the world coming to?