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By Sophie Foster
Ignoring the USA, Australia and New Zealand,
Fiji’s coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama, who heads the country’s
military, consolidated his hold on power Friday after being sworn in
as interim prime minister by the man he installed as president the
day before.
Exactly one month after overthrowing the elected
government, Bainimarama was sworn in by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo,
a day after Bainimarama initiated moves to form an interim
government in the South Pacific nation by reinstating Iloilo—a
close ally—as president.
He also reiterated that the military would be
given legal immunity for their role in overthrowing Prime Minister
Laisenia Qarase’s government on December 5.
The swearing-in was described by New Zealand as
a failed attempt to legitimize the coup. The deposed PM, Qarase,
called the moves illegal and warned of a looming military
dictatorship.
The coup is Fiji’s fourth coup in two decades.
Under the Fijian political system, the
presidency is largely a figurehead role, with executive power lying
with the prime minister and the soon to be named Cabinet. But Bainimarama
has turned it into a tool to serve his agenda.
In an address to the nation after being sworn in
as prime minister, Bainimarama said he was not relinquishing his
position as head of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF).
He also warned those “who may think of
challenging” the military-led government” [which] is “the
choice and wisdom of his excellency [the president] to think
again.”
“Let’s work together in peace and harmony to
take our country through to truly democratic and constitution-based
elections,” he added.
No timeframe was given for holding elections.
Bainimarama simply repeated Iloilo’s words upon being installed as
president Thursday that polls would be held when “political and
economic conditions are conducive.”
Bainimarama also promised to improve the
economy, eliminate “systemic corruption” and improve relations
with neighboring countries.
Bainimarama ended his address broadcast from
military headquarters by saying Fiji was marking a new beginning.
This prompted loud applause from military officers.
But Qarase told Fiji radio from his remote
island home—where he in exile on Bainimarama’s orders—that
the country was close to becoming a military dictatorship.
“We can look at some very unsettled times
ahead. We can look forward to a dictatorial government,” Qarase
said.
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston
Peters said Bainimarama’s appointment by his handpicked president
was a charade which and nothing more than an attempt to legitimize
the coup which would fool no one.
Fiji’s military has been condemned by the
international community for the coup and the US, Australia and New
Zealand are among countries which have imposed sanctions on Fiji.
Bainimarama had long accused Qarase’s
government of corruption, of introducing racist policies which
harmed the ethnic Indian minority and of being soft on plotters of a
coup in 2000.
The rebellious armed forces chief, who was
nearly killed in a military rebellion associated with the 2000 coup,
accused Qarase’s nationalist government of perpetuating a “coup
culture” by not bringing putsch plotters to justice.
Attempts by Qarase’s government to sack
Bainimarama before the coup were unsuccessful due to the support of
the ailing 86-year-old president, who is the commander in chief of
the armed forces.
Fiji has been peaceful since the bloodless coup
last month. But some who have spoken out against the coup have been
taken to the military headquarters and given warnings. A group of
six democracy activists have said they were beaten up by soldiers at
the barracks.
--AFP
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