Political Crisis Rocks Fiji Islands

Less than a year after free and fair elections that returned Laisenai Qarase and his Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua party to power, Fiji’s military commander, Frank Bainimarama, staged a coup that toppled the democratically elected government and usurped power, ostensibly to clean up the Qarase Government. Prime Minister Bainimarama justified the coup by accusing the Qarase Government of corruption and for supporting a legislation that proposed amnesty for those responsible for a 2000 coup he helped put down. This was the fourth coup in the Pacific Islands nation’s twenty-year history.

Following the coup, Frank Bainimarama was sworn in as Prime Minister and formed an interim government with eight ministers. The ministers were sworn in by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo who was reinstated as President following the coup and who immediately endorsed the overthrow of the Qarase government , giving blanket immunity to the military. The newly appointed Prime Minister has promised that the new government will pave the way for the return of democracy in Fiji, although he has not set a date for elections to be held.

Reactions from the international community

The international community reacted strongly, condemning the coup by imposing economic and military sanctions. The Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon deplored the military takeover saying that the coup was a ‘serious violation of shared Commonwealth values and principles.’ Following a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on 8 December, the Fiji military regime was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth. The Australian and the New Zealand Government quickly imposed sanctions, while also giving travel advisory to its citizens regarding traveling to Fiji. The Australian Prime Minister described the coup as a ‘tragic setback to democracy’, while the United Kingdom immediately suspended bilateral military aid. The European Union condemned it, urging all parties to engage in a dialogue to resolve the crisis. The EU has also said that it would review all planned aid programme to Fiji. The Fijian Government meanwhile has banned Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand and Prime Minister Howard of Australia from traveling to Fiji.

Reactions on the formation of interim government

There have been mixed response to the formation of the interim government. The New Zealand government in its press note noted that the nation’s “interim prime minister’ inspires no confidence that Fiji is moving quickly back to democratic rule”. While ousted Prime Minister Qarase said the appointment amounted to a dictatorial rule, the Fiji Human Rights Commission endorsed the coup and responded sharply to New Zealand’s reactions to the coup. Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said that the takeover did not come as a surprise and reserved his comments, while others like the National Alliance Party, the Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Fiji Trade Union Council welcomed the coup. Others, like the United People’s Party and the General Secretary of the National Federation Party opposed it.

Economic, social and political impact of coup

While the 2006 military takeover has by and large been peaceful, there have been some incidents of violence reported in the media. On the whole, the military takeover will have far reaching consequences for this small nation, which is dependent on overseas aid, especially from its neighbours Australia and New Zealand. The coup is going to impact the island nation’s tourism and sugar industry, with many leading nations imposing sanctions and giving travel advisories. While an interim government has been formed, there is still political uncertainty over its future, as the new Prime Minister has not set a date for new elections. One of the hallmarks of full democracy is the freedom of the press and the press in Fiji is censored. More importantly, four coups in less than twenty years – including December 2006 – may exacerbate ethnic tensions amongst the citizens in the coming future. Indigenous Fijians constitute nearly fifty percent of the population, while nearly forty percent are ethnic Indians.