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World capitals condemn Fiji coup
2006-12-05
Fiji was threatened with expulsion from the Commonwealth as other countries widely condemned the fourth coup in the former British colony in two decades. In London, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett blasted the military takeover as "wholly unconstitutional," while Finland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, called on coup leaders to return power to Fiji's elected government. "This is a major setback to the process of democracy in Fiji and has damaged Fiji's economy, international reputation, as well as its relations with the international community," Beckett said in a statement, in which she announced immediate steps to suspend military assistance to the Pacific island nation. After months of threats, Fiji's military leader Commander Voreqe Bainimarama ignored international warnings and staged the coup arguing drastic action was needed against Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who he has accused of corruption. "The likelihood of Fiji being suspended is very high," Commonwealth secretary general Don McKinnon told reporters, adding the group "unreservedly condemns any military action against a democratically elected government." Foreign ministers from nine Commonwealth countries are to meet Friday to discuss the situation after Fiji's military commander seized control of the country earlier in the day. For its part, the Finnish presidency demanded "the military forces stand back and give way to democratically elected political government" and called in a statement for dialogue to resolve the crisis. Fiji became independent in 1970 after 96 years of British rule. Three years earlier, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was replaced as head of state in a military coup when a republic was proclaimed. This latest coup has prompted New Zealand and Australia to slap travel bans and other sanctions on the Pacific island nation's Fiji's military. "The military commander has just ripped up Fiji's constitution and chucked it out the window," New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark told the country's Television One, as she denounced Bainimarama's "supreme arrogance." As the coup unfolded, both Wellington and Canberra rejected a request for military intervention by Fiji's embattled prime minister, arguing it would only aggravate the situation. But speaking afterwards, Australian Prime Minister John Howard called the coup a "tragic setback" for the country. But, he added, "the possibility of Australian and Fijian troops firing on each other on the streets of Suva (had Australia intervened) is not a prospect that I for the matter thought desirable." France also decried the military's power grab, warning the European Union was considering suspending its military assistance to Fiji. "Various measures are being discussed at the European and national levels including ... in terms of military cooperation," foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said. For its part, Japan called for a peaceful restoration of democracy in Fiji. In a statement in the run-up to the coup, Tokyo stressed a 400 million-dollar aid package to 12 islands, including Fiji, was linked to "good governance."
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