Mailnews_old

?

Shortcut

Prev上一页 文章

Next下一页 文章

Larger Font Smaller Font 向上 向下 Go comment 打印
?

Shortcut

Prev上一页 文章

Next下一页 文章

Larger Font Smaller Font 向上 向下 Go comment 打印
austraLasia #1771

Fiji army chief promises 'peaceful transition' if he makes the move

SUVA: 1st December 2006 --  After the joyful events, Salesianwise, of last weekend's diaconate ordination as reported in austraLasia #1697, the Fijian archipelago is being put to the test  - events possibly not widely reported outside the Asia-Pacific region.  There has been a long-simmering dispute between the elected Government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, and the Army commander, Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama.  The latter yesterday made the extraordinary pre-announcement of a coup to topple the Government 'peacefully' if it did not respond to his demands which include the removal of certain bills from parliament affecting land and sea ownership (Fijian villagers depend very much on their right to fish in waters immediately off the coast), the removal of the Police Chief, an Australian by the name of Andrew Hughes, and a declaration that the 2000 Coup and a subsequent military mutiny were wrong.
    The deadline for the Fiji military takeover was two hours ago as this item is being written - and it is Friday evening in Suva.  As can only happen in Fiji, the army and the police have a rugby game this evening, and both groups will be either celebrating or commiserating their win-lose over a bowl of yaqona (a local beverage), so it is unlikely any coup will take place this evening. The police chief is on leave in Australia and has been advised for his safety not to return just yet. He has already instructed the force not to take any steps to oppose a military takeover since 'it would be suicidal to do so', and has told the Government he cannot guarantee their safety. It would appear that the Fijian President is backing the military demands.  As usual, there is much more behind this than meets the eye. Hughes put it correctly when he told Australian media that 'it is Fijian politics raging in the background'.
    Just for the record, Fiji has had three - or is it four - coups in recent years; one loses count. There was the 1987 coup by Major General Rabuka, also head of the military at that time. He subsequently moved into politics as a civilian and lost office democratically. He had two bites at the cherry (two coups, in fact). Then came George Speight who is still occupying his island prison off Suva lagoon. He was imprisoned for his civilian coup in 2000 but the coup itself was never declared to be wrong. Then there was an attempted coup which involved internal army politics and a mutiny during which a number on both sides of the dispute were killed. A priest who was with soldiers at the time as a chaplain and psychologist became mysteriously ill some time later from what doctors have concluded was a blow to the head, and has never fully recovered.
    For the ordinary people, and indeed for the Salesian community in Suva, these events can mean disruption to daily life, though rarely danger to human life. There was an element of racial strife in the 2000 coup but despite what anybody may claim publicly, it was not the main reason for the coup - again it was Fijian politics raging in the background and goes back to the time Chief Cakobau 'handed over' Fiji to Queen Victoria and Britain, or indeed before that time.
    Fortunately, schools and tertiary institutes, including the seminary, are at the end of the year, and the tertiary places have already closed.
    It would be worth keeping an eye on the news over the weekend. Hughes believes there will be a coup.  This writer thinks not - but the government may change just the same!

   ___________________
 
 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com   Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm A separate service entirely is called F/OSSERVATORE to help us keep abreast of trends in the digital world.  To contact austraLasia by voice on Skype, the Skype name is austraLasia.

List of Articles
编号 分类 标题 查看
87 Pac. 0325_SEMINARY RECTOR IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT 440
86 Pac. 1656_New resources, new steps taken: Salesian Brother, Mamma Margaret 440
85 Pac. 0337_PACIFIC DANCE IN THE LITURGICAL LIMELIGHT 441
84 Pac. 1299_From Chennai to Suva 441
83 Pac. 2512_Tsunami hits South Pacific islands - Salesians report on situation 441
82 Pac. 1389_The Infant of Prague - Sto. Niño - Don Bosco House Suva - The Family 441
81 Pac. 1697_Salesian Fiji celebrates Mamma Margaret with two ordinations 447
80 Pac. 0357_MELANESIAN MADNESS 449
» Pac. 1701_Fiji army chief promises 'peaceful transition' if he makes the move 452
78 Pac. 1498_Container for Fiji sports gear, but not for Peter's enthusiasm 453
77 Pac. 0754_FIJI: SAINTS AND SINNERS 454
76 Pac. 0340_FIJI: A VIEW FROM INSIDE 455
75 Pac. 1539_Don Bosco wooed the crowd on land and on sea in Pago Pago harbour 456
74 Pac. 0229_JAKARTA POST SLAMS BELO, XANANA, HABIBIE... 457
73 Pac. 0687_SEMINARY OFFERS SURVIVAL AND ADVENTURE CAMPS AS PART OF DEGREE 459
72 Pac. 2044_It never rains - it pours! Happy feast day amidst a small miracle of (vocational) abundance 460
71 Pac. 2752_Australia-Pacific Quinquennium in Samoa 461
70 Pac. 0376_SALESIANS INVOLVED IN NEW PACIFIC MEDIA INITIATIVE 463
69 Pac. 0659_SALESIAN SPEAKS TO NEW ZEALANDERS ON AFRICAN PROBLEMS 475
68 Pac. 1456_Mel Gibson's Apocalypse 476
Board Pagination Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next
/ 7