Is Fiji becoming the Zimbabwe of the Pacific?

This last week in Fiji's history has been an interesting one let alone very disturbing for our pacific cousins. Lets see if I can get the order of events somewhat right.

April 9th - Fiji's courts announce that they have found the coup and subsequent leadership of Bainimarama to be illegal. Bainimarama therefore announces that he will stand down as interim prime minister.

April 10th - Fiji's president Ratu Josefa Iloilo fires the appeals court judges and scraps the constitution.

April 11th - President Iloilo appoints Bainimarama as interim Prime Minister.

By April 13th-14th most if not all foriegn journalists were ordered out of Fiji, and the state broadcasting and publications are heavily censored. Pictures shown on TV news here in New Zealand shows a newspaper heavily 'edited' to a point where on one standard page, was one large store advertisement and a small block of printed text for 'news'. Probably stubbed his toe.

Since then, Bainimarama has been quoted as saying that "elections and freedom of speech are problems if not controlled".

Tell me hes a rational person and that as intelligent as he is, this is a well thought of plan. Something in my mind told me that when I first heard he was going to step down I was thinking, that was a little to easy...somethings up and yep...within 24 hours...here we go.

The sanctions will come, the aid will stop and Fijian people in general will be the ones who pay the price. The sad thing is, as the title says is Fiji becoming the Zimbabwe of the Pacific? Is there a real chance that democracy, can return to Fiji with this guy around?

The currency has been devalued by his regime in an effort to increase tourism there. But I have to ask...why would any sane person go to a place that's in the middle of a military crack down? Regardless if you now get 20% more for your buck than you did a week ago...why would you bother?

This is certainly a dark chapter for the island nation. The sad thing is, I think to some degree he had it right. The deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase did have in his mind to put legislation through the Fijian parliament to pardon those involved in the coup prior to this one. George Speight and his crew who orchestrated the year 2000 coup. To me, that seemed a but dodgy.

Now the dodgy is dodgy and is in some areas moving towards becoming an Island dictatorship. I mean, we should all be thankful that Bananarama is not sitting on a dozen or so nukes. But its not like we have to be afraid of Fiji beyond the Rugby 7's.

I'm sorry if I offend my Fijian cousins, but this guy to me seems like he fell out of the tree while drinking too much coconut milk and it mucked him up something chronic. What I think once was a well intentioned path to democracy has become a man who loves the limelight and power. He has become the epitome of "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts, absolutely".