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Fiji virtually a military dictatorship: Rudd
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has condemned Commodore Frank Bainimarama's reappointment as Fiji's Prime Minister, saying the country is now "virtually a military dictatorship".Commodore Frank Bainimarama was sworn in again as Prime Minister in Fiji, after the country's President abolished the constitution and sacked the country's judiciary over a court ruling which found the 2006 military coup was illegal. "Australia condemns unequivocally this action by the military ruler of Fiji to turn this great country into virtually a military dictatorship, with the suspension of freedom of the press and actions which undermine prosperity for the ordinary people," Mr Rudd said. The Federal Government is mulling sanctions on the country, which says it will now not hold elections for another five years. Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Crean says democracy must be returned to the country as soon as possible. "This will not help the economy of Fiji [which] has been suffering ever since the military took over a couple of years ago," Mr Crean said. "All the President's done is tear up the Constitution - clearly he's acting in defiance of the law. "It is getting to the stage of simply determining things day by day and this can't be good for stability, it can't be good for the future of Fiji, it can't be good for its people." Mr Crean says Fiji may face expulsion from the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum, of which Australia is part. Fiji's newly reappointed Government, led by military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has ordered tougher censorship of the local media. The Permanent Secretary for Information has been given near total control over what is printed or broadcast in Fiji. On Friday, Major Neumi Leweni sent his Information Officers, police and soldiers into the newsrooms of the Suva's local media to check on the stories they were intending to run. He has now extended that control, informing the local media in a letter that they should refrain from publishing and broadcasting any news item that is negative in nature relating to recent political developments. This includes the President's assumption of executive authority on Good Friday and yesterday's appointment of Commodore Bainimarama as Fiji's Prime Minister for five years. Commodore Bainimarama says he hopes everyone will follow the restrictions. "We must all be loyal to Fiji - we must be patriotic," he said. "The necessary regulations are in force. I'm sure we will all, including the media, cooperate with the relevant agencies." Posted by: Steve White 2009-04-12 |
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