Latest posts by John Liebhardt from April, 2009
Fiji: The calm after the storm?
Last week Fiji's President nullified the constitution, fired the entire judiciary and appointment himself head of state and the armed forces. He then re-appointed the military-backed government of Frank Bainimarama. Bloggers of all stripes are now sifting through the debris of a completely changed political landscape – one that will see the Bainimarama government remain in power until at least 2014.
Fiji: ‘The Media has been Muzzled’
In relation to the press, Fiji's new government installed “information officers” at newspapers, television and radio stations to enforce regulations against publishing any story “negative in nature” regarding the extraordinary recent constitutional events. In a letter to media organizations, the government pointed out they should broadcast “news that is pro-Fiji.”
Fiji: President gives former PM new five-year mandate
One day after nullifying the constitution and appointing himself head of state, Fiji’s President swore in Commodore Voreqe Frank Bainimarama as the country’s Prime Minister. After being sworn in, Bainimarama re-appointed his former government, and he will now have executive authority with emergency power
Fiji's President voids constitution, calls for elections in five years
Less than 24 hours after a Fiji court declared the country’s military backed government to be unconstitutional, Fiji’s president has voided the country’s constitution, made himself head of state and dismissed the country’s judiciary. The issue stems from a Thursday, April 9 court ruling stating the military leader Frank Bainimarama...
Fiji: Court rules military government illegal
Fiji’s bloggers are reacting to a recent court ruling that deems the country’s military-backed government illegally came to power in December 2006. The court asks Fiji’s President to appoint a caretaker government to rule in its place until elections can be held.
Fiji's chief system debated
After a local academic argued that Fiji's chiefly system holds back the country's democratic progress because it could allow certain people to grab resources for themselves, Luvei Viti: Children of Fiji counters the organization of chiefs binds society together and offers solutions for handling disputes, especially at the village level.
