SUVA, Fiji (14 Feb 2001) -- Ultra-nationalists who want Indo-Fijians disenfranchised have threatened more violence if Fiji's High Court upholds its previous ruling that the military backed government is illegal. "There will be big trouble if the military upholds the ruling should it be in favor of Gates. There will be bloodshed," declared Viti National Union president Taniela Tabu. High Court judge Anthony Gates recently ruled that the 1997 multi-racial constitution was still intact and that the interim government was illegal, a decision the military-backed government vowed to fight. This week Fiji's Court of Appeal will commence hearings on whether to uphold the earlier ruling. Military leaders have stated they will abide by the court's decision if it rules in favor of upholding the 1997 constitution but warned they may need help from the international community if ethnic Fijians react violently as they did last year. The cost of racism Eight months after racist George Speight and his followers stormed parliament and took the government hostage, Fiji is learning hard lessons about the cost of ousting a democratically elected government and trashing its multi-racial constitution. | | Racist rebel George Speight on trial for treason The economy is struggling, tourist arrivals are down, the garment and sugar industries have been devastated by international sanctions and Fiji has been suspended from the Commonwealth. Unlike two previous coups in the mid-80s, this one has exposed deep divisions not only between ethnic and Indo-Fijians but within Fiji's military and its powerful Great Council of Chiefs. How Fiji responds to the court's decision will determine if the island nation is ready to rebuild a multi-ethnic and law-abiding society, or will fall further into economic ruin and political instability. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
