HIS 701- POLITICAL HISTORY OF FIJI SINCE INDEPENDENCE
WEEK 13
FORUMS & TUTORIAL QUESTIONS
- Identify the reasons for the 2006 coup? Which were the controversial bills that led to the confrontation between the military and government during the phase between 2000-2006?
Reasons for the coup includes:
(a) Bainimarama wanted proper prosecution of the perpetrators of the 2000 coup whereas the SDL/CAMV government did not follow through and they ensured the early the early release of most of the high profile convicts. When the agreement broke down and Bainimarama had those who were involved arrested. This resulted in the mutiny by those with connections to the coup perpetrators, during which Bainimarama’s life was directly threatened.
(b) Tension between government and Military Controversial Bills – Bainimarama’s reappointment in 2004, the Unity Bill dispute in 2005, the January 2006 coup threat and the 2006 elections. The conflict started in early October 2006, when the RFMF issued a three week ultimatum to the government to dispose if the Promotion of Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill (2005) (grant amnesty to the 2000 coup plotters and perpetrators), the Qoliqoli Bill (which concerned indigenous rights over reefs) and the Indigenous Claims Tribunal Bill(2006) ,or to resign. Later, new demands added to this was made that for the Police to drop the investigations that they were conducting into Bainimarama’s comments and actions against the government.