Wednesday, 04 November 2009
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Emerging Invocation of Biketawa Declaration RAMFI
Australia cannot not intervene to restore stability and democracy in Fiji in the same way it was able to in east Timor, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands.
Fiji is too big, too complex and has too many Australian interests in play.
The refusal of military coup leader Frank Bainimarama to call elections before 2014 means Australia faces a full-blown regional crisis in Fiji.
A report from Amnesty International last week noted the worsening security situation.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Affairs Minister Steven Smith have already told Fiji that the delayed return to democracy is 'completely unacceptable.'
But this is empty rhetoric and Australia needs to join with New Zealand in applying pressure on the Fijian regime.
They should first support a credible alternative leader to Bainimarama. They should then urge donors and investors in Fiji to support a return to democracy.
Australia and New Zealand should also ensure their aid continues, to mitigate the effects of the coup.
Source: Australian Financial Review 09-14-09 per Geoffrey Barker, Visiting fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, ANU.
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