Fiji: Impunity and incitement

So, Fiji's President has promulgated a decree granting full and unconditional immunity from criminal, civil and professional proceedings to Commodore Bainimarama, his troops, and all acting under his direction over the last month. While there is provision for compensation, this is solely at the discretion of the state and not awardable by the courts. What this means in English is that the soldiers who have detained, beaten, and abused people, and the officers who gave the orders, will get away with it. In one case, this means getting away with murder.

The deep hypocrisy here should be obvious. One of the "justifications" for the coup was the threat that the elected Qarase government might grant an amnesty to those involved in the 2000 coup. Now Bainimarama is doing exactly the same thing. Does that mean people would be justified in overthrowing him too?

Meanwhile, the Army has warned that it considers demanding respect for human rights to be "incitement", and those doing so will be dealt with accordingly (how - by being dragged to barracks and beaten by soldiers with impunity for their actions?). And the "interim" government is declaring that it may remain in power for up to five years. That's five years of rule by decree, without any form of electoral mandate or accountability to the people. And they think that this will strengthen Fiji's democracy?