CHRISTCHURCH (Radio NZ International /Pacific Media Watch): A former Fiji coup-maker, Sitiveni Rabuka, has suggested military and civilian leaders co-operate in a special committee after elections in order to avoid future coups.
He said the committee would be a way of keeping tabs on relations to prevent them breaking down again.
Rabuka told delegates to a conference on Democracy in the Pacific at Canterbury University in Christchurch there was hope for better relations after the 2014 elections and the committee should only be a temporary solution for restoring full democracy.
“The conference system I suggest here could be the best bet in maintaining good civil/military relations. And while it provides a great check and balance venue, it removes the fallacy of the democratic victor taking all in a democratic society.”
Rabuka said he might stand as an independent in the elections.
He also suggested an offer of forgiveness from the Great Council of Chiefs for regime leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama as a way forward.
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Pacific Media Watch
