11/04/2009

Now that Fiji's highest court has declared that the Bainimarama military regime is illegal, and the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, has declared himself in charge, we wait with great interest to see if Iloilo will appoint Bainimarama, who has been forced to resign as Prime Minister, to pick up where he left off.

Iloilo has been an unwavering supporter of the military dictator, and it seems to some who know about these things that the presidential proclamation was prepared by Bainimarama.

The judges who handed down the decision about the illegality of the regime have been sacked. Whether this is a technicality or a fit of spite is hard to know, without a proper understanding of the constitution—which itself has been abrogated.

The date for elections has been deferred for five years. Generously, you could say that this will give time for the boilng pot to cool. Cynically, you could also say that the old club is stalling, and hanging on to power.

What is clear is that the shenanigans in Fiji, which have done the country great harm since the first power grab by Colonel Rambuka in May, 1987, continue, and every day with uncertainty is another day towards state failure, poverty and disgrace.