Interview by Alex Perrottet of the Pacific Media Centre
AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Centre/Pacific Media Watch): As Fiji's military regime comes under increasing international pressure, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is still promising elections in 2014.
While many agree the military ruler has a positive vision for a multi-racial Fiji, many also believe he has gone about his reforms in the wrong way.
While time is ticking away, there is little evidence of public consultation on what shape the new democracy might take. And with his strong-fisted approach, Bainimarama may not have too many friends by 2014 when he is due to hand the regime over to the people.
Alex Perrottet speaks to Dr Steven Ratuva, senior lecturer in Pacific studies at the University of Auckland, and an expert on the Fiji military, regime change and electoral systems:
RATUVA: When you try to recreate, if you like, a new state system you need people’s support in order to be able to provide the thinking, to provide the sentiments to participate in the process, to make sure it becomes legitimate. But what he is doing is imposing it and using coercion as a means by which to achieve what he wants to do and by doing that he steps on a lot of people’s toes.
Alex Perrottet
