Headlines

FIJI: Repeated Coups Threaten Plural Social Fabric

Shailendra Singh

SUVA, Dec 14 2006 (IPS) - With tensions rising in Fiji, amid reports of a death threat against the head of the military regime and efforts by the deposed government to set up a parallel administration in the west of the country, civil society groups are concerned about the increasing potential for violence and have called for calm.

With tensions rising in Fiji, amid reports of a death threat against the head of the military regime and efforts by the deposed government to set up a parallel administration in the west of the country, civil society groups are concerned about the increasing potential for violence and have called for calm.

The Women’s Action for Change (WAC) has warned that Fiji’s fourth coup in less than 20 years will have a negative impact, particularly on young indigenous Fijians, while the Coalition for Democracy and Peace has urged all Fiji citizens to wear blue ribbons to show their support for peace and democracy. WAC, which works with youth and marginalised groups, says that their work with young Fijians since the May 19, 2000 coup have revealed that the past military coups have resulted in a decline in morale and caused despair among them.

In an interview with IPS, WAC representative, Mosmi Bhim, said the current coup would, in all likelihood, impact similarly on young people, including erosion in the respect for law and order.

Her comments came as the military reported that it had received a death threat against army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, from a group that claims to have support from Fiji’s 14 provinces, and that ousted prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, plans to form a parallel government in the western part of Fiji.

Qarase has denied the report but the military has warned him not leave his island home in Vanuabalavu, Lau. It has threatened that it will not tolerate any “de facto” government in any part of Fiji and anyone attempting this action “will only put themselves in danger”.

While there has been no repeat yet of the breakdown in law and order seen during the coups in 1987 and in 2000, the situation in Fiji is getting tense, with human rights organisations and individuals speaking out on the current impasse in Fiji reporting threats of violence, including rape, from sources claiming to be from the military.

Bhim feels that young indigenous Fijians, as in the past coups, are likely to get sucked in if there is a repeat of the violence seen in 1987 and 2000.

In 2000, bands of young Fijians ran amok in Suva after the takeover of the Mahendra Chaudhry Government by failed businessman George Speight.

They burnt and looted parts of the capital city, Suva. In some rural areas, Fijian youths set upon nearby Indians settlements, robbing and assaulting people, stealing their livestock and setting homes afire.

The worst affected area was in Muaniweni, Tailevu, where many families had to flee their homes and make for a hastily established refugee camp near Lautoka on the western side of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.

Some families returned months later while many others were too traumatised to return and abandoned their farms, homes and animals for good.

Many Indo-Fijians emigrated to other countries, mainly Australia and New Zealand as well as Canada and Australia causing a serious decline in their numbers and hurting the economy. Indo-Fijians now make up 38 percent of the population of 900 million people with indigenous Fijians forming the majority with 54 percent.

Bhim said WAC’s work in the aftermath of the 2000 coup revealed the deep divisions the political crisis had caused, even among young school children.

The NGO visited affected areas such as Muaniweni, and used playback theater, with youth who took part in the violence or were the victims re-enacting their experiences.

Bhim said this allowed participants to re-experience and reflect on what took place. She said among the aggressor group, they found that the instructions to commit acts of violence came from people in authority.

“Because of this, it took them a long time to realise that how they reacted and took advantage of the breakdown in law and order was wrong,” Bhim said.

She said the victims suffered low self-esteem and a feeling of hopelessness. “The coups caused deep divisions along racial lines between societies that had lived in pace for years,” Bhim said.

In multi-racial schools, Indo-Fijian students were mocked by their Fijian counterparts after the 1987 and 2000 coups, she added.

“In all of WAC’s youth programmes, young people have consistently called for ethical and nonviolent leadership from all adults – including leadership in the police, military, churches and government and non-government organisations.”

A statement from WAC said that in the long-term, military action could result in a sense of apathy and powerlessness among people. The economic impacts of the coup may further mean that young people will face a further decline in economic opportunities.

“The current military action will further perpetuate this problem, simply because the interim regime proposed by the military has not been elected by the people and their actions themselves are a violation of basic democratic principles.”

Said Blue Ribbon campaign founding member, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls:

“Active non-violence is the acceptance that through ongoing dialogue and respect, we can find solutions to conflict. It is about dealing non-violently with other parties when conflicts arise, and resisting violent responses, to bring about sustainable long-term resolution.

“The blue ribbon is a way for every Fiji Islander to show their belief in the principles of our constitution – it’s not about politics.”