Sabre-rattling continues in Fiji
Anil , Delhi: Nov 2 2006
Made Popular Nov 2 2006

laisenia-qarase_2Fiji, an island country in the South Pacific faces a possible army coup. Fiji ’s military commander Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama goes on warning that the county’s prime minister Laisenia Qarase’s refusal to resign may lead to bloodshed and violence in the troubled South Pacific nation.

The prime minister has persistently refused to be forced out by the hostile military commander, and instead offering to meet with Bainimarama for talks aimed at averting a confrontation. He also claimed the open support of the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

The United States threatened to suspend aid to Fiji if military leaders move against Qarase. Regional leaders have also expressed deep concern over the prospects of a coup, and rallied round the elected government. “Bainimarama should accept that his role is not to go in and replace governments,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Miss Helen Clark. Qarase is “the proper, constitutional, democratically elected prime minister and there can be no justification at all for a military coup,” added Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

The nation, a former British colony is rocked by its fourth coup in 20 years. Interestingly, Bainimarama had brought Qarase to power in the last coup in 2000 by ousting the first ethnic-Indian prime minister.

Apprehensive of a coup, local Fijians are already stockpiling food in anticipation of violence.

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0 Stars
Ashutosh
Chandigarh, India
isn’t it same Fiji that had same trouble few years back. instead of united nation stopping aid that this small island is receiving it should try to work out a peaceful solution to it. by stopping aid they will create more disgruntled citizens. whom the rebels can then easily sway to their side
1 Stars
Jolly ecofriend.org
Jalandhar, India
if US thinks that it can sort out the situation by suspending aid to Fiji, I guess that they are highly mistaken...
once Qarase has been elected it is just insane to remove him such a case will definitely lead to a coup unless they think for a better and a peaceful solution to the problem
1 Stars
Dictatorship is a pest to every nation, army coups have marred democracies in the past…Pakistan being one true example at present. The nations around the world should try and workout ways to solve the raging crises before the masses are rampaged by the deteriorating situation…and we land up looking head-on into another Pakistan.
0 Stars
instead of stopping aid on the part of US I think the better solution is to claim democracy in the island that would definitely change the scenario. Mutual talk can work here too that will neither diminish the aid nor worsen nation’s internal matters…..
1 Stars
Esther
Delhi, India
The fact of Qarase’s primary position as a financial advisor to the Interim military Government cannot be overlooked. Qarase might have forgotten that Supreme Court of Fiji had clearly adressed to Qarase’s present Government as ’unconstitutional’, and that Mahendra Chaudhary was the rightful Prime Miister, when Qarase had ousted him.
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efforts should be made to negotiate with military commander.voilence is no solution to the existing crisis.
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Why does United States come up with poor solutions all the time and why does every country look for help from America?

U.S. since Iraq war is coming up with weird solutions to the problems most of the times. Global community desperately needs a capable global leader i.e. for the Presidential seat of America.

U.S.’s solution to the Fiji crises yet again proves that America is no longer ”great America.”

Esther is right that Qarase’s primary position as a financial advisor to the Interim military Government cannot be overlooked.
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They are t5alking about bloodshed and violence on one hand and at the same time the U.S., again trying to prove a hero, talks of banning the aids to the poor county. What a pity that we talk of democracy time and again and we are diminishing its meaning ourselves.
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Vishal
Solan, India
US will do no good for the nation by suspending aid to Fiji. the step will only effect the citizens and not the authorities. some better and peaceful alternative should be thought to over come the problem.
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Mandira
Hyderabad, India
Why do US tries to solve the internal matter of any country?
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