Bloody hell. Another coup in Fiji. They seem to have evolved into a standard component of the Fijian political system. I don't know why the Fijian public tolerate having their wishes trampled over by the military or whatever special interest group is heading the latest coup. I guess that these coups keep happening because they are relatively bloodless and they don't really affect the citizens that much. Still, they have to work out a better way of resolving disputes.
I notice that for all of John Howard's regional tough talk he wasn't willing to commit troops save democracy in Fiji. Sure, he's willing to do it in Iraq but not in Fiji. I'm not saying that sending troops into Fiji would actually help the situation, the Fijian military are well trained and well equipped. I just thought I'd point out the blatant hypocrisy of Howard's foreign affairs agenda.
Update: This is pretty disgusting. From the SMH,
Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has declared himself head of state, sacked the Qarase Government and justified his actions with references to the dismissal of Gough Whitlam.
Apparently the Commodore skipped that bit in the constitution about who appoints the head of state and what warrants a dismissal.
