Politics: Coup: Fiji military faces consequences of violating republican institutions of island democracy

Bruce Wearne has commented at length, with quotes, on the developing situation in the SouthWest Pacific wounded-democracy of Fiji. A Forum of Eminent Persons has been organized involving some of Fiji's neibours. In the context of an email subscription list, Thinknet, reformational philosophers and kin, says Bruce, "may be wondering about the current state of play in Fiji." refWrite readers may be wondering also. Dr Wearne continues:

From reading the Suva newspapers [Suva is a Fijian community] on the web I can't help wondering if it is dawning upon the coup's perpetrators that they have failed and whether a new coup may be not far away.

Elizabeth Kennan's latest Time story indicated her view that Fiji may have just experienced the 'coup to end all coups'.

That fanciful analysis has been blown away in the last day or so.

The FDP [Fiji Daily Post] newspaper is keeping its head down but has reported the following:

Lawyer's car smashed (Feb20,2k7)

Crime is down according to the military.

But one group of criminals appear to have gotten away with smashing a car belonging to Tevita and Ana Fa.

Tevita Fa is a prominent lawyer who is representing deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase and the SDL Party [Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua / United Fiji Party, which absorbed the Christian Democratic Alliance and other groups] in legal action against the military regime that seized power last December.

The Fiji Times has reported on the findings of the Pacific Islands Forum Eminent Persons Group.

Return to camp, military advised(Feb20,2k7)

Interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama should resign and order his soldiers to return to barracks, it has been recommended in a report.

The report was prepared by the Pacific Islands Forum Eminent Person's Group comprising Vanuatu's deputy prime minister, Sato Kilman, Samoa's Environment Minister Faumuina Luiga, Papua New Guinea's retired chief justice Sir Arnold Amet and retired Chief of the Australian Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove.

The report, which PacNews got hold of yesterday, said any assistance by the Forum to the interim administration would be based on its acceptance of the Group's nine-point recommendations.

It includes the return to barracks of all soldiers and Commodore Bainimarama's resignation as interim PM.

The report recommends that he should allow a civilian to lead the Interim Government.

"The Republic of Fiji Military Forces should be asked to take immediate steps to withdraw from its involvement in the Interim Government, with a view to restoring civilian rule as soon as possible,"the Group recommends.

A copy of the report is with Commodore Bainimarama who is studying it, according to Interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. He said the report would have to be studied thoroughly before a public comment was made on it.

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat said the report has been released to members of the Forum and would not be made public just yet.

PacNews said the report also called on the Interim Government to take the country to the polls in 18 to 24 months.

The Group also urged the Interim Government to immediately put an end to all human rights abuses.

The Group also recommends that the Interim Government restricts its activities to four measures. These are:

* to uphold the 1997 Constitution;

* to respect and uphold Fiji's domestic and international obligations;

* that the RFMF ceases all interference with the judiciary and accountable institutions;

* to ensure that all citizens are free to seek legal redress in the courts in relation to events on and following December 5,2k7.

The report said that if the Interim Government adhered to the group's recommendations, the Forum would consider a phased package of assistance to Fiji. These include financial and technical support for the electoral process and the anti-corruption commission and assistance to restore the independence of the judiciary.

The 21-page report is expected to be tabled at the region's Foreign Affairs ministers meeting next month.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark at a press conference told journalists that the timeframe given by the group for Fiji to prepare for the polls is more than enough.

She said the report from the group showed a forward path for Fiji back to democracy.

Many thanks to Dr Bruce Wearne and his colleague in Fiji, journalist/editor Dr Robert Wolfgramm, for their reformational- philosophically- informed monitoring and commenting on the Fiji situation where Christians in politics play an important role.