Fiji: dictating democracy
101 East looks at the future of democracy in the struggling Pacific island country.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Fiji’s prime minister, took power in a coup in 2006 and has since suspended the constitution, detained opponents, delayed elections and suppressed freedom of speech.
The self-appointed prime minister says that Fiji will have a new constitution in 2013 that scraps the ethnic-based system introduced in 1997, and that elections would be held in 2014.
In response, his actions have ignited a barrage of international criticism and led Fiji to be suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum.
It also faces possible expulsion from the Commonwealth.
When Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in 2006, he promised to bridge the racial divide.
Ethnic Indians make up more than a third of Fiji’s population of 900,000. Many Fijians tend to vote along ethnic lines and politicians often play the ‘race card’ to win votes from indigenous Fijians.
On this edition of 101 East, we speak to Fiji’s Frank Bainimarama and ask: what is the future for democracy in Fiji?
This episode of 101 East airs from Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the following times GMT: Thursday: 1230; Friday: 0300; Saturday: 0530, 1730; Sunday: 0330, 1130; Monday: 1630; Tuesday: 1430; Wednesday: 0830, 1930; Thursday: 0630.