Interesting post at http://crosbiew.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-on-earth-did-court-expect.html

Yes. All very well for the Sydney blow-ins. A bit different for those who live here, especially the poor.

And both Nanu levu and Manulevu raised in different ways, the X-factor. It’s the Pacific, the blokes are all on yaquona while the women get a lot of stuff sorted out behind the scenes (I used to play scrabble with Adi Lady Mara and she’s about the only person I’d trust in the whole wide wild world to be a truly benevolent dictator. In fact I have little problem with a true global government, provided it’s helmed by a smart, tough, funny and worldly Fijian matriarch.)

Look at it this way. What happened in Fiji happened with many third world countries after being granted independence by carefree/bitter/confused/broke/scheming colonial powers. And yet compared to say Africa, Fiji took 17 years for the first coup, the killing has barely reached double figures and very little blood has been deliberately split elsewhere (And what there was killed and spilled, has I bet led to many long circular yet sincere apologies over the yanqona bowl).

Which is not to say I’d enjoy being driven hooded in a Landrover to the QV Barracks for a “detailed appraisal of the situation” at the hands of some of Bainimarama’s more messianic junior officers and troops.

It’s bad and sad what’s happened to Fiji since May 1987. But it could be worse. At least a tough, proud, tribal and caste-ridden island warrior nation with a great sense of humour and certain savoir-faire/lazzie-faire attitudes towards sea-surrounded trade garrisons got to colonise Fiji before the French, Germans or Americans.

“Fiji’s Council of Chiefs is just one example of an extraordinary domestic power that could be realistically seen to pose a problem for any Westminster style democratic order.”

“What bollocks. Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs was created by the British Colonial regime, so as to present a thin veneer of democracy,”

Um MikeM, these two points do not contradict eachother.

“I understand a massive percentage of Fiji’s foreign exchange income is in the form of wages to Fijian soldiers on active service as UN Peacekeepers elsewhere in the world.
What are the implications here?”

It means that in addition to Fijians being naturally brilliant small unit soldiers, the RFMF is now very skilled in running roadblocks, checkpoints and other ways of managing the flow of civilians.

A few closing observations.

Fiji is the only country ever to ask to join the British Empire. Got knocked back twice. Third time lucky.

Fijians are as not as good barroom fighters as you expect. The ratio of shouting and strutting to effective punches thrown is entertaining but not always effective. I’ve seen on Victoria Parade at different times, usually outside The Golden Dragon and across from the Olympic Baths, a wiry little West Indian guy take down to two massive Fijians, a USN SP defuse a looming bashing by smartly rapping a local in the nuts with a baton and a Fiji vs Tonga rugby match where the spectators thought they join the on pitch riot efficiently broken up by Fiji fijian and Indian police auxiliaries. I say efficiently because the riot rapidly dispersed and as we left the stadium, the Fijian and Tongan thumpers and thumpees were all mixed together, affably chatting away. A good old-fashioned punch up – followed by ‘grog’! And then another punch-up. In slow motion.

I don’t think the phrase “coup d’etat” is really that applicable to Fiji anyway. Ruthless split-second timing to install a brand regime overnight is just not the Fijian way. Yes, they’ve done it but it keeps devolving down into
everyone knows eachother so how can you be really ruthless when it’s your aunty’s cousin’s brother in law who forgot to call Inoke to leave the Raiwaqa service station open so the countercoup plotters could fill up their Landrovers. During the Hibiscus Festival.

Also, vakamalooma. What’s the hurry?

Now the rather convenient (to most people) legal figleaf has been stripped away. The decision in the Appeal Court, especially the refusal to allow a stay while the matter went to the Supreme Court, pushed Bainimarama into a corner. He was never likely to back down, though I thought he might force the matter to the Supreme Court first. So he’s abrogated the Constitution. What did the 3 judges think he was going to do??
Pablo suggests ‘my guess is that the commodore will wrap himself in the Fijian flag and ask what two aussi’s and a Hong Kong judge (appeal court) are doing ‘dictating’ to Fiji?’ Well, he hasn’t yet, but it’s sure to come. The TV coverage on Thursday showed a very white court – all judges and most counsel. It didn’t look good.

Now Bainimarama’s reacted with the usual military lack of subtlety. While some radio stations are carrying ‘approved news’, others are refusing to, and the Fiji Times will presumably have even more rugby coverage than usual to cover for the gaps. Both sides, press and military, are spoiling for a fight, so goodness knows what the outcome will be. Probably a compromise in a few days – this is the Pacific. In the meantime things are peaceful; contrary to SMH reports there were no roadblocks on the road into Suva this morning, and the rugby matches continue.

The main public response seems to be “Oh no, not again” – dread mostly that the economy will go down further, fear that there will be sanctions, that tourism will fall further. Jobs, money for school fees, the difficulties of making ends meet – these are the dominant concerns, not elections.

Fiji’s Council of Chiefs is just one example of an extraordinary domestic power that could be realistically seen to pose a problem for any Westminster style democratic order.

What bollocks. Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs was created by the British Colonial regime, so as to present a thin veneer of democracy, http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/\papers23\paper2212.html.

Bainimarama’s original stated reason for seizing power, reiterated on a number of occasions, that Qarase’s government was corrupt and pursuing racist policies against the large minority of Indo-Fijians. A large part of the underlying problems is the Fijian system of land tenure, which substantially prevents Indo-Fijians from owning land.

I don’t see all this discussed currently. On the other hand, despite Bainimarama’s claimed altruistic motives, he does not seem to have actually done anything about the problem and he is now aggressively censoring the news media.

Do not speak too soon pablo. The local white people, we elected, plan to relegate democracy to the frontyard of “Museum” status.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/18/2495045.htm

“Despotism, tempered by assassination.”

I suppose it might work, depending on the frequencies of the assassinations.