 |
QUICK LINKS |
|
|
| 38thPILF |
|
Fiji's history has brought to light that having an elections cannot solve the country's coup culture the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said.
Speaking at the 38th Pacific Island Leaders meeting in Tonga on Wednesday (17/10), Commodore Bainimarama said that "more fundamental and deep rooted and structural issues that has besieged our country and which politicians have not honestly and with the country and with the country as their priority, tackled the very problems that have led to this so called coup culture."
He highlighted that Fiji has gone through a stormy political history and that the military was always ready to lend a helping when the need arose.
Going back through history the PM stressed, that in April 1987 a democratically elected Government came to power but was removed a month later in a coup. Some months later when a Government of National Unity was being formed, a second coup was staged again by Rabuka.
He added that the Constitution was suspended, the Judiciary removed, there was substantial abuse of human rights and freedom of the media was curtailed.
"We had three years of decree led governance with no elections. In 1990 at midnight a skewered and racist constitution was promulgated.
"In 1992 some 5 years later elections were held under the skewered and racist 1990 Constitution. In 1997 Parliament approved an amendment to that Constitution. In 1999 elections were held under the amended 1997 Constitution and a year later the new democratically elected Government was removed.
"The country subsequently started spiralling into anarchy and it was the Republic of Fiji Military Forces that brought law and order."
PM Bainimarama said that following the restoration of law and order, the RFMF handed the reigns of Government to an entirely civilian leadership.
"That Government did not adhere to the fundamental principles of good governance, transparency and equal citizen rights. It subsequently after the elections flaunted the rule of law and condoned nepotism and corruption. It very alarmingly sought to consolidate its political survival by engaging in and promoting divisive and racial policies, practices and laws. It breached the trust that was entrusted to it by the RFMF."
-End-
No:1650
 Top of Page
|
|
|
