Frank Bainimarama has been sworn back in, to no one’s surprise.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama has been sworn back in as Interim Prime Minister, only a day and a half after his regime was declared illegal.
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo scrapped the country’s constitution and Bainimarama stood down from the role he grabbed during the 2006 coup after the Court of Appeal ruled his regime was illegal.
However, Bainimarama has taken an oath and is back in command.
Fiji’s judges, magistrates and official officers have also got their jobs back.
Announcements on further ministerial appointments are due this afternoon.
I understand the judges followed the law, but it doesn’t seem like that’s done much good in the big picture. The same government is effectively in charge, and now there’s no constitution at all.
Bit of an own goal really.
Comments on: "As you were, minus the constitution & judges" (1)
The first time the judges ruled on the previous government’s corrupt behaviour under Qarase, the international community ignored the findings.
Now, suddenly, the international community think a ruling from the supreme court should count for something.
Sadly, the international media have not seen fit to report on the real progress Bainimarama has made in moving towards democratic elections and a new constitution that is not inherently racist.
They would have you believe that returning power to a corrupt government that was about to destroy the economy with some contentious legislation is what democracy is all about.
I don’t agree with the actions Bainimarama felt forced to take, and he will likely pay dearly for this political miscalculation. I hope though that the people of Fiji do not also pay dearly.
New Zealand media are busy comparing him to Mugabe, for the wrong reasons. I said in another comment it might be more apt to consider the parallels with the left wing media criticising Bush for not allowing the people of Iraq to hold elections in 2004, and demanding Saddam is returned to power. The Iaqi elections finally went ahead in 2005, simply because even with trillions of dollars in support, it took time to hammer out a constitution to cope with different Muslim factions.
It’s the same situation in Fiji, but without the help from countries like New Zealand and Australia offering legal resource and assistance. Instead, its sanctions and condemnation with no attempt to understand Fijian politics.
Sadly, Bainimarama’s defiance in the face of international criticism will be his undoing, even if it is not entirely his fault.