Suva, Fiji – Fiji’s military overthrew the elected government Tuesday after weeks of threats, locking down the capital and putting the prime minister under house arrest in the fourth coup in the South Pacific country in 19 years.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the armed-forces chief credited with putting down Fiji’s last coup, announced in a nationally broadcast 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.”
The takeover, like the previous three coups, has its roots in the ethnic divide between the descendants of ancient Melanesian warrior tribes and those of Indian laborers brought by former colonial power Britain to work in sugar plantations.
In his declaration, Bainimarama justified seizing power to prevent legislation that favored indigenous Fijians, contending the measures “would undermine the constitution and deny many citizens their rights.”
Bainimarama said he had assumed powers of the president and had used them to dismiss Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
In the 2000 coup, Bainimarama set up an interim government and handpicked Qarase, a former banker, to lead it.
Qarase’s leadership has gained the legitimacy of two general elections, but Bainimarama grew increasingly frustrated with his nationalist leanings, in particular legislation that offered pardons to the 2000 coup plotters and handed coastal land rights – lucrative to the tourist industry – to indigenous Fijians.
The United States has suspended $2.6 million in assistance to Fiji, most of it for financing of military sales to Fiji and the training of service personnel.
