Our troups are currently in the middle east trying to set up a democracy in possibly the most hostile location available. Right on our doorstep a tiny Island has had it's democracy overthrown by a military coup. Should we intervene there? And if so, under what conditions?

I thought originally we should have intervened in Fiji - but the Military Chief says it's our previous interference which has led to this.  Apparently after the last coup - Australia who was interfering at the time - did nothing to help Fiji bring the perpetrators of the coup to justice.  The President and Military Chief claim that the Prime minister was allowing corruption within the Parliament.  So who knows?

Fiji says they have their own brand of politics there - and want us to butt out - so maybe Howard has it right this time.

I agree with Howard that we shouldn't go rushing in without a plan, but he is definitely leaving the option of military intervention open.

You're not planning to hit Samoa are you?  'Cause I'm going there at Christmas.   :o

No, we try not to make a habit of invading small pacific island nations. We've still got troops stuck in East Timor I think.

I should probably know this by now, but how do you get the text to scroll like that?

Well ... first you type it, then you highlight it, then you click on the <--M Icon.  Easy as pie.

I see. I think we should discourage the use of this feature. I find it kind of annoying.

:o  :o  :o I like it ...  :o  :o  :o ... a LOT ...  :o  :o  :o

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/US-calls-for-democracy-in-Fiji-now/2007/02/21/1171733800305.html

The US State Department says the people of Fiji should not have to wait until 2010 for the restoration of parliamentary rule.

Responding to the three-year time frame announced for elections by Fiji's military ruler, deputy spokesman Tom Casey said the administration "wants to reiterate our call on the government to return to democratic rule, not a year from now or two years from now or three years from now, but now."

Fiji's military chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama installed himself as prime minister after ousting the elected government on December 5.

No we should leave them alone.
I wonder why it happened in the first place?
Might i assume it is an issue where the indians are trying to take over again?
I say put george spate in power.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/EU-threatens-aid-sanctions-against-Fiji/2007/03/06/1172943409565.html

The European Union is threatening to withdraw about 200 million euros ($A340 million) of aid to Fiji in the wake of the country's military coup.

In a statement the EU said it has made clear its "strongest possible opposition" to actions that undermined democracy in Fiji.

The EU first flagged in January that it could suspend aid to Fiji.

Myfanwy van de Velde, trade counsellor with the Delegation of the European Commission for the Pacific, said about 150 million euros ($A255 million) of development aid and a further 50 million euros ($A85.1 million) in assistance to the country's sugar industry could be affected.

The aid was to have been delivered between 2007 and 2013.

What the hell does europe have to do with fiji !!!!!

1. Its a pacific nation.

2. Fiji poses absolutely NO threat to anyone else.

3. Europe no-longer holds any empires so where is their interest?

It appears to be entirely altruistic.

European principles should not be enforced in our backyard.

You mean like democracy and charity?

Its a Fijiian problem.
If we really want to help fiji, Remove the indians.

I don't think it's the Indians trying to turn it into a dictatorship.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/US-report-slams-Fiji-over-human-rights/2007/03/07/1173166776898.html

Fijian women have been sexually molested for speaking out against the country's military coup, while other protesters have been beaten and intimidated, the United States says in a scathing report.

"Prior to the December coup the government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, although there were serious problems in some areas," the report said.

"The human rights situation deteriorated greatly following the coup.

Are they native Fijiians or Indians?

You mean the coup leaders? I'm pretty sure they are natives.

No, the rape victims and rapists.

I had a bit of a look but couldn't find anything. I'd assume the perpetrators would have been natives, and the victims a mixture of both.

Why that assumption?
Did you know that fiji's population is 65% indian?

I thought most of the problems were to do with native 'nationalists'.

Therefore i shall agree with them.
NOT THE RAPE THOUGH.

Fiji is a window into our future. think about it...... IF YOU CAN.

You think they should skip the rape and go straight to the annihilation stage?

Would you support effort by aborigines to take this country back?

This is a very bad sign:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fijis-coup-leader-clamps-down-on-media/2007/03/08/1173166886365.html

Fiji's coup leader has warned journalists the military will haul them in for questioning if they are deemed to have filed "irresponsible" reports.

The warning came after the general manager of the Fiji Daily Post and the news director of Fiji Television were detained separately over reports the military objected to.

The Fiji Television report detailed the death of a man after he was allegedly detained and assaulted by soldiers during a drug raid on his village in the east of Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island.

Also on Thursday, the military said it was trying to establish the identities of journalists behind a weblog launched to expose alleged human rights abuses since Commodore Frank Bainimarama's December 5 coup.

;DBainimarama, who has appointed himself interim prime minister, told Fijilive that he supported media freedom. ;D

The site was launched in January and has used it to publish allegations against the military regime, including several deaths it says resulted from bashings by soldiers.

---

Sanctions aren't hurting Fiji: military

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Sanctions-arent-hurting-Fiji-military/2007/03/15/1173722614096.html

Fiji's military rulers say human rights abuses in the Pacific nation are relatively minor and international sanctions imposed after the recent coup have had little impact.

---

Fiji public servants vote to strike

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-public-servants-vote-to-strike/2007/03/20/1174153054172.html

Thousands of public servants in Fiji have voted to strike after the military government slashed their wages under a plan to save the nation's economy from collapse.

---

Fiji govt insists on 2010 election

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-govt-insists-on-2010-election/2007/03/21/1174153146078.html

Fiji's military-led government has again rejected demands from its South Pacific neighbours that it return the country to civilian rule within two years.

It says elections cannot be held for at least three.

Australia, New Zealand and other members of the Pacific Islands Forum last week demanded Fiji hold elections within 18 months to two years, and that its military rulers return to their barracks and hand power over to a civilian interim government.

The 16-member bloc endorsed a report condemning the December 5 putsch in Fiji.

The report concluded that elections could be held at least a year earlier than coup leader Frank Bainimarama's 2010 timetable.

---

Australia, US 'wanted Fiji mutiny'

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/australia-us-wanted-fiji-mutiny/2007/04/13/1175971313433.html

A top Fiji soldier has accused Australia, America and the United Kingdom of trying to spark a mutiny in the lead-up to last year's coup.

Land Force Commander Colonel Pita Driti on Thursday told troops in his country that he was jointly approached by former Australian High Commissioner Jennifer Rawlinson, US Ambassador Larry Dinger and British High Commissioner Roger Skyes in the lead-up to the coup.

Speaking on New Zealand radio, Driti accused the countries of trying to persuade him to overthrow military strongman Commodore Frank Bainimarama in the days before the coup.

"They were trying to persuade us to overthrow the commander and take over the helm of leadership in the military," Driti said.

"They told me that 'what you are doing is wrong. It is not good for the country. We are not with the Commodore ... We don't agree with his policies and how he has taken a stance. We would rather have someone else take over, but not him'.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/EU-demands-Fiji-democracy-by-2009/2007/05/09/1178390382738.html

Fiji stands to lose hundreds of million dollars in European Union aid if its interim government delays returning the country to democratic rule by 2009.

The warning was sounded by the head of the EU's delegation in the Pacific, Dr Roberto Ridolfi, who said Fiji could miss out on about $A205 million allocated by the EU to help lessen the Pacific nation's reliance on sugar exports.

---

Fiji military targets anti-govt weblogs

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-military-targets-antigovt-weblogs/2007/05/11/1178390529850.html

The military in Fiji is moving to shut down access to anti-government weblogs after unsuccessful attempts to find those responsible for the sites.

Senior military commander Colonel Pita Driti has told Pacific Radio that access to the sites would be closed down on Friday afternoon.

Internet technology in Fiji is provided through only one provider, Fiji International Telecommunications Limited (FINTEL).

A FINTEL spokesman confirmed he had met with members of the interim administration on Friday morning and been asked to shut off access to the weblogs.

The United States has accused interim government in Fiji of trying to censor television news broadcasts and said the military had "detained, interrogated, and abused" people who wrote letters to the media opposing the coup.

"On a radio talk show on December 22, Bainimarama stated that if pro-democracy activists did not shut their mouth, the military would shut it for them," the US report said.

---

Fiji govt extends state of emergency

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-govt-extends-state-of-emergency/2007/05/15/1178995116745.html

Fiji appears on a collision course with the European Union after extending a state of emergency despite an agreement reached last month.

The European Union (EU) is believed to be examining a statement issued by the Fiji government on Monday night that says a state of emergency will be extended.

At a meeting with the EU in Brussels last month, Fiji vowed to abolish the state of emergency by the end of May in order to secure $F400 million ($A298.5 million) in aid funding.

---

Access to some Fiji weblogs blocked

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Access-to-some-Fiji-weblogs-blocked/2007/05/18/1178995368849.html

Fiji's military government appears to have successfully blocked access to a number of critical weblogs that have embarrassed the administration.

---

State of emergency to be lifted in Fiji

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/State-of-emergency-to-be-lifted-in-Fiji/2007/05/31/1180205413313.html

Fiji's military ruler said on Thursday he was lifting a state of emergency imposed on the country when he seized power in a coup six months ago.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who declared himself prime minister after the December 5 coup, announced in a national address that the emergency powers would cease from midnight on Thursday.

He said the military would retain special powers to quell any unrest or other anti-government acts.

The lifting of the regulations at the end of May was one of the conditions imposed by the European Union in order for Fiji to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in aid over the next eight years.

Under the emergency rules, some rights protected under the constitution were withdrawn and the military was given the right to detain people.

---

Australia welcomes changes in Fiji

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Australia-welcomes-changes-in-Fiji/2007/06/01/1180205485909.html

Australia has welcomed the lifting of Fiji's state of emergency but warned that recent comments from military leader Frank Bainimarama were worrying.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said in a statement it expected Fiji would now cease arresting, detaining and questioning Fiji civilians.

It urged the immediate cessation of human rights abuses.

The DFAT statement said Australia was concerned at recent comments by Bainimarama that the military did not conduct last December's coup "just to have another election".

"Bainimarama's comments are deeply worrying. They are contrary to Fiji's undertakings to the (Pacific Islands) Forum and its commitments to the EU to hold credible elections by 1 March 2009.

"They also contradict Bainimarama's statement on 3 May that he was committed to a quick return to democracy," the statement said.

Despite the lifting of the state of emergency, Fiji's land force commander, Colonel Pita Driti has said in recent days that students who contribute to anti-government weblogs on the internet would be tracked down and could lose their scholarships.

---

Fiji calls for NZ envoy to leave

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-calls-for-NZ-envoy-to-leave/2007/06/14/1181414418106.html

New Zealand high commissioner Michael Green has been asked to leave Fiji by its interim military government.

According to reports in New Zealand, Green is accused of failing to heed repeated warnings against making anti-government statements and met with political parties opposed to the Pacific nation's military rulers.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-human-rights-body-attacks-Australia/2007/06/14/1181414444433.html

A Fiji human rights body has accused Australia and New Zealand of breaching protocol by calling for a United Nations review of the independence of the country's lawyers and judges.

Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC) director Dr Shaista Shameem said the issue could be taken to the International Court of Justice.

Australia's representative to the UN Human Rights Council, Caroline Millar, told a meeting of United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva this week there were concerns at "compromised state of the judiciary" in Fiji.

---

Fiji isolating itself: deposed Fiji PM

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-isolating-itself-deposed-Fiji-PM/2007/06/15/1181414524418.html

Fiji's deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has condemned a decision by the country's military regime to expel New Zealand's High Commissioner Michael Green.

Qarase told Radio New Zealand that Fiji could not afford to further alienate countries such as New Zealand and Australia, which have been vocal critics of Bainimarama's coup.

"The decision in my view is very ill-conceived and rather immature. I know Michael Green, he's an experienced diplomat, he's well respected here and all he has done is perform his diplomatic duties faithfully and honestly," Qarase said.

---

Fiji's ambassador to NZ ordered home

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fijis-ambassador-to-NZ-ordered-home/2007/06/15/1181414532461.html

Fiji's high commissioner to New Zealand Bal Ram has been ordered to return to Suva.

But the order is apparently unrelated to Fiji's decision on Thursday to kick out New Zealand's ambassador to Fiji Michael Green.

Ram and five other mission heads - all appointees of the government overthrown by Fiji's military last year - were told to return to Suva last week, before Green was deemed persona non grata, the Fiji Times reported on Friday.

Ram, speaking to reporters outside Fiji's mission in Wellington, said he would leave New Zealand in about a month.

He said he was not sure if he would be replaced.

Fiji Foreign Affairs permanent secretary, Ross Ligairi, told the Fiji Times that the process of replacements had to be done in accordance with the Vienna Convention, which was quite a lengthy process requiring approval from the nation to which the ambassador was being appointed.

:o

What are you talking about AN?

freediver wrote on Jun 15^th, 2007 at 10:56am:

What are you talking about AN?

Absolutely nothing.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/NZ-rejects-why-diplomat-ousted-from-Fiji/2007/06/17/1182018926058.html

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has rejected the latest explanation given by Fiji's military leader for the expulsion of her country's High Commissioner to Suva.

Michael Green was ordered to leave last Thursday, with the decision based on a vague claim that he had interfered with Fiji's domestic affairs.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who ousted Fiji's elected government in a coup last December, called a press conference to apparently explain why the diplomat had been declared persona non grata.

"Michael Green has been in our face since the 5th of December," he said at the press conference reported by New Zealand's TV One News.

After that comment, he referred to a rugby match which took place last weekend between the Junior All Blacks and Fiji, where Green was given a VIP seat.

There has been speculation in Wellington that the expulsion order was sparked by that event, and that Bainimarama - who was sitting in the stands - had felt offended.

"The Fiji Rugby Union has done the people of this nation a grave disservice," he said at a press conference.

"Out of 800,000 people in Fiji they went out and nominated the enemy of the day to be chief guest."

---

Fiji military ruler defies NZ threat

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-military-ruler-defies-NZ-threat/2007/06/21/1182019250073.html

Fiji's military ruler has challenged New Zealand to find further sanctions to impose on his coup-installed regime after expelling Wellington's top diplomat.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who has already cut most aid and defence ties with Fiji and banned coup supporters from entering her country, vowed to impose new sanctions after they were decided at a Cabinet meeting next week.

---

Fiji's public servants to strike in July

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/fijis-public-servants-to-strike-in-july/2007/06/22/1182019359192.html

Fiji's public sector unions will stage a nationwide strike next month after the country's military regime slashed their wages and said it would force people to retire earlier.

---

Blog urges Fijians to consider attacks

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/blog-urges-fijians-to-consider-attacks/2007/06/22/1182019348885.html

A weblog aimed at destabilising Fiji's military regime has urged Fijians to consider attacks in tourist areas, with one user even posting instructions on how to make explosives.

---

Alleged Fiji mutiny plotter wins retrial

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/alleged-fiji-mutiny-plotter-wins-retrial/2007/06/25/1182623808607.html

Fiji's court of appeal ordered the retrial of a Fijian chief who was imprisoned for life for plotting to kill the country's military commander in a military mutiny in 2000.

A panel of three judges quashed verdicts against Ratu Inoke Takiveikata imposed by the High Court in November 2004 by the South Pacific nation's acting chief justice, Anthony Gates.

The panel found that Gates was biased against Ratu Inoke, the paramount chief of Fiji's Naitasiri district, and ordered a retrial on charges of inciting a military mutiny in November 2000.

The bloody mutiny, in which eight soldiers died, was a bid to kill Commodore Frank Bainimarama months after he quashed a May coup, freed 55 Fiji lawmakers held hostage, arrested the coup leaders and helped restore democracy.

---

Australia loaned Fiji weapons: Nelson

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/fiji-sees-threat-in-aussie-navy-plans/2007/06/25/1182623797353.html

Australia loaned the Fiji military weapons, protective equipment and more than 350,000 rounds of ammunition so it could send troops to Iraq three years ago.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson revealed that all weapons plus some of the protective equipment had now been returned.

But ammunition and other supplies remain with the Fijian contingent inside Iraq, serving as part of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

Australia officially suspended all defence cooperation with Fiji following the military coup last December.

---

Australian lawyer deported from Fiji

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Australian-lawyer-deported-from-Fiji/2007/06/26/1182623896867.html

Fiji's military government has deported the Australian lawyer of a civil rights campaigner, who is seeking a court order to stop the military from harassing her.

Cameron has been representing Fiji civil rights activist Angie Heffernan, who is seeking a court order to stop the military from questioning or detaining her.

Heffernan is the director of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity and has been a vocal critic of coup leader Frank Bainimarama's military government, installed after his December putsch.

In January this year, she said threats from the military had led to the closure of the PCPI's offices and at one stage forced her into hiding with her children.

Heffernan was arrested later that month, and threatened with charges under the Public Order Act over what Land Force Commander Colonel Pita Driti called her "inciting statements".

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/NZ-set-to-announce-new-Fiji-sanctions/2007/06/27/1182623970590.html

New Zealand leaders have decided on new sanctions against Fiji but will wait until cabinet votes next week before announcing them.

It had been expected New Zealand would on Wednesday detail a series of new sanctions against Fiji, in response to the Pacific nation's expulsion of NZ High Commissioner Michael Green.

---

Fiji colonel 'to be Malaysia envoy'

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-colonel-to-be-Malaysia-envoy/2007/06/29/1182624130950.html

Australia is trying to confirm reports a Fijian army officer accused of presiding over human rights abuses is to be made an envoy to Malaysia.

There have been reports that Fiji Land Force Commander, Colonel Pita Driti, will be made the country's high commissioner to Malaysia.

Soldiers under his command have been accused of beatings, sexual assaults and killings.

Recently Driti played down reports of human rights abuses.

"I think they are making a song and dance out of those little actions that we do. For them to regard those as abuses of human rights I think is very, very childish of them and that they are just exaggerating," he said.

In April, Driti accused Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of having tried to spark a mutiny in the Fiji army shortly before the coup.

---

NZ announces new sanctions on Fiji

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/NZ-announces-new-sanctions-on-Fiji/2007/07/02/1183351103463.html

Prime Minister Helen Clark said New Zealand would ramp-up existing sanctions and block coup supporters, Fijian officials and sporting teams from transiting through her country.

The new round of sanctions will further limit bilateral contact between the two countries, and will also make it tougher for Fijians to work in New Zealand, Clark said.

Those so-called "smart sanctions" were designed to target leaders of the military coup but not impact on ordinary people in Fiji.

Under the original sanctions, members of Fiji's interim government, its supporters and members of the military were prevented from entering New Zealand, but could sometimes transit through the country enroute to another country. Many Pacific flights out of Fiji go via Auckland.

The original sanctions also froze ministerial contact with Fiji, put an end to joint military training and stopped many Fiji athletes from attending sports events in New Zealand.

The new sanctions extend those bans to high-ranking public servants.

---

Fiji leader threatens to delay election

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/fiji-leader-threatens-to-delay-election/2007/07/03/1183351194641.html

Fiji's coup leader has threatened to push back elections by years unless critics of his military regime stop their attacks.

Members of the Fiji Law Society have petitioned the president to reinstate the nation's suspended chief justice, angering military commander and self-appointed prime minister Frank Bainimarama.

Despite pressure from members of the legal community, the military has refused to say why it suspended Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki earlier this year.

Bainimarama last month said his regime had agreed "in principle" to holding elections by March 2009, as demanded by the EU which had threatened to cut funding.

He said his commitment should prompt Australia, New Zealand and the EU to normalise relations with Fiji to aid the country's recovery.

---

Fiji to seek development loan from China

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/fiji-to-seek-development-loan-from-china/2007/07/05/1183351361410.html

Fiji will ask China for a substantial loan for infrastructure projects after international donors threatened to slash aid following a bloodless coup, the prime minister says.

---

Fiji interim-PM hits back at US critics

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-interimPM-hits-back-at-US-critics/2007/07/09/1183833395600.html

Fiji's self-appointed prime minister has hit back at criticism of his rule by the United States, likening his actions to those who fought for American independence.

In May, Rice told a meeting of Pacific nations in Washington that democracy should return to Fiji.

"The Pacific cannot devolve into an area where strong men unilaterally decide the fates of their country and destabilise democratic foundations of their neighbours," she said.

But Bainimarama on Monday likened his actions to the strong-arm methods of those who fought in America's Revolutionary War against Britain.

---

Moti's appointment outrageous: Downer

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Motis-appointment-outrageous-Downer/2007/07/11/1183833589170.html

Australia has warned the Solomons Islands it has become a laughing stock for appointing a man facing child sex charges as its top law officer.

Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare angered Canberra this week by appointing Julian Moti as the South Pacific island nation's first law officer, despite the fact that he is wanted in Australia over child sexual abuse charges.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-leader-taunts-New-Zealand-PM/2007/07/12/1183833645202.html

Fiji's self-appointed prime minister has taunted New Zealand leader Helen Clark with a promise to attend a meeting of Pacific leaders in Tonga despite her warning he would be treated like a leper.

Earlier this week Clark said Bainimarama would be "treated like a leper" if he attended an October meeting of Pacific leaders in Tonga.

But Bainimarama on Thursday hit back at the comments.

"She's made a statement that she'll go to the forum meeting and ask that I be removed but it does not depend on the forum," Bainimarama is reported as saying in the Fiji Times.

"That is taken for granted that Fiji is part of the forum and I will be there as a leader.

""If she doesn't want to see me, then she should make a point not to come to the forum," he said.

---

Australia warns of Fiji nurses strike

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Australia-warns-of-Fiji-nurses-strike/2007/07/24/1185043079039.html

Australia has issued a warning to travellers of the risk of street demonstrations and public disorder in Fiji where nurses are preparing to walk off the job.

---

Fiji to hire strike-breaking contractors

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-to-hire-strikebreaking-contractors/2007/08/03/1185648094315.html

The Fiji government is looking to bring in private contractors to provide public services as four of the Pacific nation's public sector unions continue strike action.

The workers - including 4000 teachers, 1500 nurses and other employees of the military-led government - are protesting a five per cent pay cut and the reduction in the retirement age from 60 to a mandatory 55 imposed by the interim government.

---

Fijians to vote in 2009: coup leader

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fijians-to-vote-in-2009-coup-leader/2007/08/15/1186857586957.html

The coup-prone South Pacific nation of Fiji will hold democratic elections in March 2009, armed forces chief and coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama says.

---

Fiji coup 'was not a coup'

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-coup-was-not-a-coup/2007/08/31/1188067328936.html

Fiji's military takeover last year was not a coup, and Australian history proves it, claims a Fiji human rights group.

Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC) Dr Shaista Shameem claims in a report to the United Nations that the military takeover on December 5 was not a coup because the "essence of state power" was not removed.

The document was prepared for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as part of a report into alleged abuses of international law during the events of December last year.

Dr Shameem, in the past accused of being a strong supporter of military leader and self-appointed prime minister Frank Bainimarama, says in the report that the president of Fiji is the country's head of state, and since he remained in power during the takeover, the coup did not occur.

The FHRC is a statutory body in Fiji that is supposed to independently protect and promote human rights in the country.

The report says there has only been one coup in Fiji during the past 20 years - in September 1987.

As evidence of her assertion, Dr Shameem points to the removal of Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam by Governor-General John Kerr in 1975, which was not considered a coup.

---

Australian, NZ judges quit Fiji

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Australian-NZ-judges-quit-Fiji/2007/09/04/1188783211333.html

Fiji faces a judicial crisis after six expatriate judges, including an Australian, quit over the behaviour of the country's military-appointed chief justice.

---

I'm being followed, says ousted Fiji PM

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Im-being-followed-says-ousted-Fiji-PM/2007/09/04/1188783218129.html

Ousted Fiji prime minister Laisenia Qarase has accused the military of following him since his return to the capital Suva, amid reports soldiers also roughed up his driver.

Qarase, who was overthrown last December in a military coup led by Commander Frank Bainimarama, returned to Suva on Saturday after spending eight months in exile on his remote home island of Vanua Balavu.

Before leaving for Suva, Qarase claimed he had received a phone call from someone identifying themselves as from the military, warning he would be killed if he returned to the capital.

---

Bainimarama declares martial law in Fiji

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Bainimarama-declares-martial-law-in-Fiji/2007/09/06/1188783388620.html

Fiji's self-appointed leader Frank Bainimarama has reinstated martial law in the South Pacific country.

The state of "public emergency regulation" was intended to stop ousted Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his party executives from "destabilising our progress", coup leader and self-appointed prime minister Bainimarama said.

He said Qarase and his spokesman Peceli Kinivuwai were spreading lies about his regime, which seized power in a bloodless coup nine months ago, Fijilive reported.

---

Australia 'warned Fiji of invasion'

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Australia-warned-Fiji-of-invasion/2007/09/12/1189276786843.html

Fiji's military strongman who seized power last year has claimed Australia's defence forces threatened to invade the country in the lead-up to the December coup.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fiji-businesses-plead-for-EU-aid-money/2007/10/11/1191696043660.html

Fiji's businesses have pleaded with the European Union (EU) to reconsider moves to cut aid to the country.

The EU last week said aid being allocated to Fiji to restructure the country's sugar industry had been scrapped for 2007, and about 60 million euros ($A94.76 million) of future aid had been put on hold.

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Fiji's coup leader 'to bar PM from poll'

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fijis-coup-leader-to-bar-PM-from-poll/2007/10/18/1192300940720.html

Fiji's coup leader has backtracked on promises to hold free and fair elections, saying members of the government he ousted last year won't be allowed to run.

On Wednesday, Frank Bainimarama had told leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga that he would hold democratic elections by March 2009, accept the results, and allow members of the ousted government to contest the poll.

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Bainimarama fires up over Fiji elections

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Bainimarama-fires-up-over-Fiji-elections/2007/11/27/1196036850498.html

Fiji's coup leader appears to have further backed away from a key commitment he made to Pacific leaders last month.

At the Pacific Islands Forum leaders conference in Tonga, Commodore Frank Bainimarama made headlines after agreeing to hold elections in Fiji by March 2009 where anyone could stand.

But the Fijilive website has reported new comments from Bainimarama that appear to contradict his earlier assurances.

"There is no place at all for people like Laisenia Qarase and his supporters in this country and I will do everything I can to stop him from standing in the next election," Bainimarama said.

"The SDL party is just creating so much tension in the country and I have made it clear that they will not get any support at all from me," he said.

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NZ govt under fire over Fiji MP's visit

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/nz-govt-under-fire-over-fiji-mps-visit/2007/11/26/1196036806446.html

The New Zealand government has been accused of undermining its own sanctions against military-ruled Fiji by allowing a minister from coup leader Frank Bainimarama's regime to visit.

The government has granted Fiji's education minister a special exemption to travel to New Zealand, despite having banned members of Bainimarama's regime from setting foot in the country.

The minister Netani Sukanaivalu arrived in Auckland on Monday to attend a Pacific Forum education ministers meeting.

Green Party MP Keith Locke said the exemption smacked of hypocrisy, given that several sporting representatives from Fiji had been prevented from entering New Zealand due to links with Bainimarama's regime.