NEWS: Yet Another Coup in Fiji

Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the armed forces chief, announced in a nationally broadcast evening statement that, "As of 6 o'clock this evening, the military has taken over the government, has executive authority and the running of this country."

He said he had assumed some powers of the president and was using them to dismiss Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, elected in May.

He named Dr. Jona Senilagakali, a military medic with no political experience, as caretaker prime minister and said a full interim government would be appointed next week to see the country through to elections that would restore democracy sometime in the future.

The move was denounced by elected officials and the president, the police force, and countries and international organizations with connections with Fiji.

"The government they want to set up will be totally illegal," Qarase told a small group of reporters inside his house in Suva, where he said he was under effective house arrest. "What the military commander has done has raped our Constitution."

New Zealand announced it was suspending defense ties with Fiji and would ban its military officers from traveling to the country. Bainimarama is believed to have children living in New Zealand.

"This is an outrage what is happening in Fiji," Prime Minister Helen Clark told reporters in Wellington, the New Zealand capital.

Yet another example of why a civilian controlled military is a good idea.

Baletempest said:

Or better still no military at all.

Amadio said:
It's not just ethnic tension, Most of the Indio-Figians are Hindu, Vs. the predominantly Muslim populace.

Amadio said:
It's not just ethnic tension, Most of the Indio-Figians are Hindu, Vs. the predominantly Muslim populace.

PointBlank said:
Fucking Bananarama!

BashingHeads said:
What strikes me also in this whole story, is that prime minister of Australia, John Howard, refused to send troops to help Fijians as requested by overthrown prime minister Laisena Qarase. Mr. Howard thought it wasn't worth it... or did he knew that without any help, Qarase would disappear and negotiations would be better with Bainimarama for Australia's sake? I am not accusing anybody, I am just thinking out loud...