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Frank Bainimarama - Source: ONE News -
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What does the democratic world do with countries that can't seem to sustain democracy?
It's a question the US is wrestling with in Pakistan and that New Zealand and Australia now face with the abrogation of the constitution in Fiji last weekend. And it's a question we'll be putting to Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, who has agreed to appear on Q+A this Sunday morning, April 19, at 9am.
In both Fiji and the increasingly worrying Pakistan, the military has an unhealthy amount of power, tribal and ethnic loyalties are deeper than national ones and ruling leaders are corrupt and driven by self-interest.
Then there are the protests and counter-protests in Thailand , where those committed to democratic principles are probably in the minority, a corrupt leader who bribes voters would probably win a free and fair election, if one could ever be arranged, and the monarchy is probably the only thing holding the country together.
A simple appeal for democracy to prevail seems next to meaningless in these convoluted circumstances.
The situation in Fiji seems to be especially fragile this time round. The detention of lawyers, editors and bankers cuts not just at the heart of the electoral process, but at those institutions that underpin free and fair elections. It demands more than words of complaint.
But a leader such as Voreqe Bainimarama, who has this week confirmed his power-hungry and dictatorial nature by crossing so many lines, has two arguments that tangle concerned democratic countries in knots.
First, he demands other countries respect national sovereignty ; in other words, butt out of our business, it's up to Fijians to solve Fiji's problems. Second, he implies that democracy is not for everyone and that a traditional tribal nation may prefer other forms of government.
The public good of all Fijians should trump those concerns, and may do, sooner rather than later, but we should not cast aside those arguments lightly. Sovereignty must matter and there is a reasonable argument to be had about how exactly Fiji should be governed.
If the Pacific Island Forum, the Commonwealth or even the UN is to act against Bainimarama, they must win those arguments first.
Helen Clark addressed the issue of whether democracy works for every country just two weeks ago on Q+A. She said:
"Some [countries] have never had it and I think sometimes it's a bit unrealistic to think you can transplant the institutions and the history we've got that underlies our institutions just holus bolus into countries with a different history."
It's an agonising debate. The truth is that different forms of democracy exist around the world - some guarantee certain privileges to indigenous populations, some give rights to states within the state, some are parliamentary and some are presidential. We cut the democratic cloak to fit. On the other hand, if we believe in the fundamental right of citizens to choose how they are led and by whom, then we can't stand by and do nothing.
Bainimarama will seek to exploit this tension, as he has done for years. But at some point his bluff must be called. The debate is over how. There's no one-size-fits-all model to follow. Each solution must be designed to fit the country in peril.
So is democracy unrealistic in Fiji? Given its history of courts and a free press, I don't think we can concede that point. So the question becomes, what are we as a neighbour prepared to do to ensure democracy is protected? What solution fits for Fiji?
It'll be interesting to hear Mr McCully's views on Sunday...
Q+A - TV ONE, Sunday at 9am and live streaming on
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentYady said on 2011-11-28 @ 09:41 NZDT: Report abusive post
the country is full of complacent morons who love to complain but dont get of there arse to vote.... cant beleive where this country is headed, where just like the yanks, maybe worse because we think we are better than them....shame shame shame..... who can blame us for moving to aussie... the nz government is for the nz rich list, they dont care about the poor..... shame shame shame..... and the media should be held accountable.... they done this... i want to hear the tea tapes!
Yady said on 2011-11-28 @ 09:35 NZDT: Report abusive post
those who didn't vote should be ashamed of themselves.... this country is full of moaning couch potatoes..... just what national needed... shame shame shame....
cheekychick said on 2011-11-27 @ 10:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
Michelle Boag calling Winston names is disgusting and offensive Jan
troberts88 said on 2011-11-27 @ 10:00 NZDT: Report abusive post
Yay John!
cheekychick said on 2011-11-27 @ 09:28 NZDT: Report abusive post
Winston Peters is needed in Parliament to keep them honest. Janice