SUVA, Fiji — Fiji’s long-time prime minister mentioned on Thursday the navy had been deployed to keep up “law and order,” as the previous coup chief refused to concede defeat after a detailed election.
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who has led Fiji since coming to energy in a 2006 navy putsch, cited unsubstantiated experiences of post-vote ethnic violence as the rationale for the deployment.
“So long as it is our responsibility to serve in government, we will fulfill our duty to every Fijian’s safety,” he mentioned in his first public feedback because the December 14 election.
That vote seems to be set to finish Bainimarama’s lengthy rule, with an opposition coalition cobbled collectively by one other former coup chief, Sitiveni Rabuka, securing sufficient seats for a parliamentary majority.
However, Bainimarama has refused to concede defeat and his allies have delayed the parliament sitting to appoint Rabuka as the subsequent prime minister.
Fiji has been rocked by 4 coups and a navy mutiny up to now 35 years. There are rising considerations Bainimarama is making ready for the navy to step into the political course of once more.
His ally, police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, claimed earlier to have unspecified “intelligence” about “planned civil unrest,” as he sought to justify the navy deployment.
The navy has vast powers to intervene in politics underneath Fiji’s structure, holding “overall responsibility” always for guaranteeing “the security, defense and well-being of Fiji and all Fijians.”
New Zealand’s ministry of international affairs was the primary from a neighboring nation to induce restraint after news of the navy deployment was made public.
“We encourage all parties to allow the constitutional process to play out,” a ministry spokesperson instructed AFP.
Fiji’s navy commander Jone Kalouniwai is claimed to have assured international diplomats earlier than the vote occurred {that a} coup was not on the playing cards.
Jon Fraenkel, a professor at Victoria University of Wellington who has simply returned from Fiji, mentioned the navy’s assurances “have to be very strongly questioned.”
‘Living in concern’
News that the opposition had reached a coalition deal noticed Fijians pour onto the streets to rejoice what they believed was the tip of a decade and a half of semi-authoritarian rule.
While not an outright autocrat, Bainimarama has ceaselessly had his authorities use the authorized system to sideline opponents, silence critics and muzzle the media.
Soon after the coalition deal was struck, police expressed concern about experiences of post-election “stoning incidents” and violence towards the Indo-Fijian minority, which has tended to assist Bainimarama.
The drive later admitted the experiences had not been totally investigated, however police commissioner Qiliho doubled down on claims of internecine strife on Thursday.
“More information and reports are received by the Fiji Police Force and Republic of Fiji Military Forces of threats made against minority groups who are now living in fear,” he mentioned.
“The continuous attacks on minority groups has aggravated the current tense situation.”
Those claims had been rubbished by Mahendra Chaudhry, the nation’s first Indo-Fijian prime minister, who was ousted in a 2000 coup.
“I see no evidence of unrest here, people are calm and they are waiting for the president to convene parliament so that a prime minister is elected,” he instructed AFP.
“I have no evidence of any unrest and nor do my people out in other districts. It’s not what we are hearing on the ground.”
“The opposition got more votes and the constitution is very clear on the process to be followed in such a situation. The right thing now for everyone to do is to comply with the constitutional requirement,” Chaudhry mentioned.
Rabuka issued an announcement late Thursday saying any experiences of violent incidents had been “disturbing.”
“I urge the people of Fiji to respect the rule of law, and to allow the political process to continue without hindrance,” Rabuka mentioned.
“The coalition aspires to the peaceful transition of power.” — Agence France-Presse
