The verdict is almost unanimous. That is, from the High Priests of Democracy—United States, Great Britain, France, Fiji’s regional benefactors New Zealand and Australia, and now, The Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon.

The verdict is that Fiji’s democracy, its democratic institutions, its law- abiding citizens and, indeed, the country’s entire fabric of lawful governance is under seize by its gun-toting military brass in the person of Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. Don McKinnon characterizes the Government-Military stand-off as a regrettable disregard for the concerns of ordinary people in Fiji.

Threats by an unelected military of forcibly evicting a democratically elected Government- so the argument goes--are creating an impossible situation for Fiji that will undo and reverse its many decades of achievements in economic, political, and human rights fields, and has the potential to render the country’s outlook so bleak that hordes of abused and impoverished people from these islands will create an unimaginable problem for Fiji’s more affluent neighbors—New Zealand and Australia—in terms of human tides crashing at their shores!.

There is another perspective, though, that would characterize the Fiji situation otherwise - looking at the brighter side of the “clean-up” campaign championed by Commodore Bainimarama - assuming that Commodore is clean-hearted about his professed mission and is making a sincere commitment to realize his vision.

If, indeed, the Commodore adheres to his vision of Fiji and Fiji society, it would not be reckless to envision him being counted as one of history’s Greats

There are many aspects of the lives of Lincoln, Gandhi, and Mandela that made these people Great but one common thread that runs through their greatness is the compassion they showed for the weak, for the vulnerable, for those threatened for their lives and trying to preserve their dignity in absolutely intolerable circumstances.

There were nothing else these great people did that come even close to what they did for their countries’ minorities—Blacks, Muslims, and Whites. By making the protection of minorities as the focal point of their struggle for creating a just society, a representative system of government, and an environment of tolerance, acceptance and accommodation, these great men changed the course of history that would benefit the mankind for generations to come.

It would be ludicrous, irresponsible, and unwise for me to assert such greatness for Commodore Bainimarama, without knowing much of his background and of the society he envisions Fiji to become. But looking at the substance of his differences with Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his stubborn resistance to making even minor adjustments to the terms of his negotiations with The Prime Minister, I have absolutely no doubt that the Commodore is after something truly great.

Let us review the bills that Commodore is opposing and wants them be thrown out—lock, stock, and barrel—no negotiations, no tinkering, no adjustments. [To use Bainimarama's expression: We can argue all day about the rule of law and democracy until the cows come home but this (that is the disputed Bills be thrown out) is what we want].                                               

If the Qarase Government professes itself to be legal and democratic, the substance of the Unity Bill is outright illegal and its intent unabashedly undemocratic. Why then would The Prime Minister is refusing to admit—and act upon—that the 2000 Coup was an illegal, unconstitutional act, while telling the world that Commodore Bainimarama’s threats against his Government—also democratically elected—are illegal and unconstitutional?

Why the perpetrators of the 2000 Coup still hold high positions in his Government, while Commodore Bainimarama’s actions are being portrayed as seditious?

Moving along on the question of the legality of Commodore Bainimarama’s actions, why, during the 2000 crisis, did Australia not send its navy and commandos to rescue the democratically-elected leadership of Fiji, held hostage by the thugs for nearly two months, while it is risking the lives of its Navy men for launching the so-called rescue mission for its citizens trapped it Fiji’s stalemate who, in fact, feel safer here in Suva than they would on the streets of Sydney?

Finally, why did New Zealand do nothing in terms of mediating the dispute between warring parties in the 2000 crisis which it is doing now to avert the 2006 crisis? Such double-standards extend to threats made by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who would expel Fiji military from peacekeeping duties, while the organization had nothing of substance to say during many of Fiji’s previous coups? 

The other two bills that The Commodore opposes - 'Qoliqoli Bill' and 'Indigenous Claims Tribunal Bill'—are more damaging to Fiji’s long-term interests and to its standing in the community of civilized nations than anything ever conceived by an evil mind, with self-destructive instincts to the core.

These reports, to say it mildly, are alarming, especially for a country so much dependent on tourism dollars for job creation and fueling of economic growth on the hilt of foreign investment!

In short, The Qoliqoli Bill and its companion, The Indigenous Claims Tribunal Bill, threaten the livelihoods of Fiji’s half of wage-earning and salaried workforce, whereas there are very few options for creating substitute employment.

Then, if the Qoliqoli Bill has such deleterious consequences—even ignoring the human rights issue of depriving a large segment of country’s population from access to essential amenities of life--why would then the international community, or any one with Fiji’s wellbeing at heart, voice support for a person or Government who is hell-bent on spearheading the passage of the Bill, while demeaning the intent of the one who is having the courage to stand-up against such an evil?

Cadre’s opposition to the bills in question may not be taken as his intention to protect the minorities’ rights. At least this is not the view shared by many Indo-Fijians I have talked to and, indeed, many of them would agree with Cane Growers Union boss Mr. Jagannath Sami that Army’s threats against Government are illegal and undemocratic and must be opposed.

So, it may appear that Commodore Bainimarama’s modus operandi of opposing the bills and asking for punishment for the coup plotters has other intentions than the protection of minorities’ interests and promotion of fairness and equality in country’s governance.

However, even if this be correct, the “side-effects” of Bainimarama's clean-up campaign would still be profound and sort of earth-shaking, in terms of it helping to create an environment of fairness, justice and equality, and assuring protection for everyone irrespective of differences in appearance and beliefs.

Most importantly, this change of environment will help lift country’s economic fortunes, in a way that could make it an economic powerhouse of the region, rivaling Singapore and Hong Kong.

The reasons for such optimism are simple. What the country has experienced in the aftermath of the 1987 coup is a decisive break in the way a civilized and modern nation is governed and cares for its citizens. In a more fundamental way, we can say that the Fiji State—as a modern nation—died with the events of 1987, and the troubles and restlessness we experience today—political disarray, economic decline, law and order deterioration and, above all, the dying out of any sort of optimism about the future—are kinds of smell coming out of the rotting corpse of Fiji State.

I am not sure Commodore Bainimarama’s clean-up campaign will help resurrect a dead State but the risk he is taking is worth the attempt.

The threat to Bainimarama's endeavors will not be from Qarase and his companions, who, I would say, have lost all moral authority to govern and be trusted. The threat will be from the indigenous Fijian and Church leaderships who have most to lose from liberalism, secularism, inclusion, integration, and a humanistic approach to uniting people that, apparently, seems to be the goal of C’dore’s clean-up campaign. 

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