Fiji PM philosophical about likely expulsion from Forum
Updated
While Fiji's military Government continues to make new appointments, that's not likely to satsify the Pacific Islands Forum, which now seems almost certain to suspend Fiji on May the 1st when its deadline for Fiji to provide a path towards democratic elections expires. Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama is philosophical about the prospect of suspension, simply saying there's nothing they can do about it now.
Presenter Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama
Fiji, Pacific, Government and Politics
- Listen:
- Windows Media
GERALDINE COUTTS: Commodore Bainimarama, thank you very much for joining Pacific Beat. Before we get down to tin tacks today, can I just ask you where you are? It sounds pretty exciting and quite a festive atmosphere that you've involved yourself in.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Thank you Geraldine. I'm at a sports ground in Suva. Primary school kids are here, ready to play the rugby. And I'm just here, ready to watch my grandson play.
GERALDINE COUTTS: OK, you're not the umpire then?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: (LAUGHS) No, no, no.
GERALDINE COUTTS: Alright, then. Sorry to drag you away from your grandson's rugby match, but can we get down to some questions that are of interest. Firstly, the censorship program that is installed in Fiji at the moment and, of course, the shutting down of the ABC's Radio Australia's 92.6 FM stations in Nadi and Suva. Why did that happen?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Geraldine, we've been given a new mandate by his Excellency, the President, and we intend to stay with that mandate and that is exactly what we're doing.
GERALDINE COUTTS: OK. As the Minister for Communication, that order was given by you, but I was just wondering why specifically the FM stations? And can I also ask you do you know how long that they'll be off-air for?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: The public emergency regulations will be around for about a month, Geraldine, and we will see how things go after 30 days.
GERALDINE COUTTS: Your thesis has been all the way through that you want equal opportunity for everyone. You want to get rid of racial discrimination in politics, so if that's the case, why is there a program of censorship then? Why can't people have their say and contribute to...
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Censorship has nothing to do with that. The censorship is to provide us with a base and we can move forward with what his Excellency the President has given us. And the events of last week has given us the opportunity to move forward and we intend to do that.
GERALDINE COUTTS: May 1st is looming and that, of course, is a well-known deadline for Fiji and providing a blueprint of election programs for the forum and the international community, otherwise it will consider suspension. How concerned are you that Fiji will be suspended, come May the 1st, and are you taking steps to try and avoid that?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Geraldine, we have been given a deadline by his Excellency the President. We intend to take advantage of that and that is to hold elections by September 2014, and that's going to be done.
GERALDINE COUTTS: Well, clearly then, suspension looks inevitable but what I'm really interested to know, can you take steps? Is it avoidable? Can you do anything with the international community...
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Well, there's nothing really we can do that would change the minds of the leaders the Pacific island nations but that is yet to be decided. The suspension of Fiji from Pacific Island Forum.
GERALDINE COUTTS: Now the economy has been getting a few lines written in the press lately, and that is there's been a devaluation of the dollar by 20%. Some say that's a good idea, but the foreign reserves are also down and I noticed in the press the other day that you made a speech to your military personnel saying that they need to be patient, they need to get on board, and they need to make sacrifices. Do you think that you'll be able to continue to pay their salaries if the economy keeps going this way?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: No, we don't have any problems with that, Geraldine. I'm sure we can handle that. We can handle the payment of the civil servants and the people that are being paid by my Government now. But, sorry, I've just been interrupted. But I don't think we'll have any problems. What I was telling my troops was to just be responsible in the way we spend our money.
GERALDINE COUTTS: Now, there was a front-page article by Graham Davis in the 'Australian' and he was heralding what you and the President are doing, saying that you're on a good course of action, that there needs to be democracy. There are others that obviously don't consider that, but I'm just wondering in terms of Graham Davis' thesis that you're doing the right thing and it had to be done and you have to have the bitter pill to get the sweet pill later, is essentially what he's saying. But I'm just wondering, given the promises you've made and haven't kept, I just wonder, are you a democrat? Is democracy...
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: I don't know what, I haven't made any promises I have not kept, Geraldine. But the way we do things here is totally different from the way you do things in Australia, and different from the way they do things in New Zealand, so I guess Mr Davis will appreciate that what we are trying to do, being Fiji born, and he understands the technicalities on the ground here.
GERALDINE COUTTS: But I'm just wondering, I mean, what evidence is there to support the fact that you are a democrat and want these reforms?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Our priority are reforms, reforms in making Fiji a better place to live for the people of Fiji and our, I will talk later, Geraldine. I'm just off to, the match is ready to start now.
