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Issue No: 777; 19 May 2001
A year ago today a group of terrorists organised by some defeated politicians, armed with military issued weapons, and funded by some local businessmen, invaded the Parliament Complex and took the elected government hostage. They kept the government hostage for 56 days. This act came after 13 hard and long years of rebuilding and reconciliation - 13 years since the first military coup in 1987. There is one simple lesson which we get out of this: democracy has a very fragile foundation in Fiji. It needs to be carefully nurtured, and courageously defended. But most important of all, one can never put one's complete faith in defeated politicians, corrupt businessmen, and politicised elements in the Police and Military forces to adhere to the rule of law and the tenets of democracy. A year since the attack on democracy, the nation has seen not a single terrorist, conspirator, financier or supporter taken to justice. Fiji stands at a cross road now. One path leads to perpetual
destruction, violence, racism, and possibly a civil war. Another leads the
country again to multi-racial democracy. The onus is on one and all to make a
determined choice on what route one wants Fiji to take. |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
