BY rule of thumb, there are only two limbs to resolve Fiji's political crisis. First, a free and fair election. The right move. Secondly is the time frame. Without hedging, the much-bandied 2009 March Election is the wrong time.
Even Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama agrees.
But two former British colonies Australia and New Zealand, founded by ex-convicts, are leading the charge of the self-righteous brigade in reining Bainimarama to heel and exact its pound of flesh. Else Fiji will lose millions in foreign aid. The UN, EU and the Commonwealth have given the ANZ alliance tacit approval to be its listening posts with misinformation as its trademark.
The blitz against Fiji also comes from all the kingsmen in Tonga, Samoa, Niue, and the Melanesian bloc, dabbling with diplomacy to impress their neo-colonist masters, NZ Prime Minister John Key, and Australian PM Kevin Rudd.
Evidently, the ANZ alliance have been dangling lucrative aid carrots to hire a posse of head-hunters to execute their dirty deeds.
Cash-strapped island nations have been literally trading in their parliamentary silk ties and pin-stripe suits for a few dollars more to resurrect their primeval instincts, wear tribal paints and beating of the war drums.
Basically, the Pacific campfire jamboree script is, either rein in Bainimarama, or unceremoniously kick Fiji out of the Commonwealth, the Mecca for all foreign aid.
Initially, PNG's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was the go-between with NZ and Australia posturing for Fiji's democracy.
As an elder Pacific Statesman, he seduced Bainimarama to sign the March 2009 election. The legitimate understanding that Fiji could extend the election date. However, NZ and Australia, as self-proclaimed Pacific policemen, thought otherwise.
A resolute Bainimarama played hard-ball. He dug his heels in. He called their bluff. The rest is now nothing but a messy trench warfare. It is any charge d'affaires political nightmare. To restore some decency and etiquette, Somare then offered Bainimarama a free plane ride the "Melanesian Way"! There were no subscribers to the "Polynesian Way." Frankly, the mantra chant is not "my way". Rather, it is "out-of-my-way", and accommodate Key and Rudd's economic way. Not a Pacific Way.
Fiji Times correspondent Maureen Penjueli (12/02/09) succinctly calls it: "Rigging the Game". "End of the Pacific Way and the reign of the ANZ Way".
As far as the crow flies, Somare perceived that he sold Bainimarama out, his dear Melanesian brother.
Sequel to Somare's perception, an impassioned speech at "The Special Forum Leaders Meeting on Fiji's Situation", Port Morseby, January 27, 2009, he extended the olive branch and exorcised his March Election day demon: "The Pacific Way is not about burning bridges. The Pacific Way is going the extra distance. The Pacific Way is being compassionate and able to forgive."
Somare's only cardinal sin is trusting Key and Rudd.
His audacity to rendition the dialogue of "inclusiveness", engaging Bainimarama the Melanesian Way, is really an SOS call to demystify the ANZ web of deceit.
Forum chairman and Niue's Premier, Toke Talagi tightened the screws on Somare who coughed out an apology.
Talagi's side-kick, Samoan PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, in an unprecedented exhibition of childishness ridiculed Bainimarama.
Notably, New Zealand is Samoa's and Niue's surrogate mother. Niue annexed in 1901. (German) Samoa mandated in 1919. Demographically, more Samoans live in Auckland than in Samoa. One cannot be more than emphatic enough but to notice the relaxed migration policy. Surrogacy was too powerful a factor to run the gauntlet in cutting the umbilical cord. They were too spineless to bite the bullet and hoist the brotherhood flag. Consequently, the ensign was consigned to the backseat. It was a big ask.
Somare knew the horse had bolted and that he was in a bind. But sought clemency through $1 million to Fiji's flood victims relief. The Pacific Way.
Conversely, Key and Rudd have transformed the Forum to sponsor its selfish agenda. Worse, they have single-handedly forced Melanesian and Polynesian brothers to fight among themselves.
The Forum is now a Trojan Horse.
Probably Sir Michael's finest hour and in true Queens Knight tradition referred to the Bikatawa Declaration that any action must be taken on the basis of "all members of the Forum being part of the Pacific Islands extended family".
But Key and Rudd are demanding their pound of flesh.
Chaos is now in residence.
Somare is shrewdly aware of the chaos and the ANZ's bid is the right move, but wrong time.
To avoid the same old pit falls and salvage what used to be known as the Pacific Way, Somare said: "If there is anything else to be learnt from the previous coups, hurriedly-prepared elections and token changes to rules do not usher in real democracy."
Talagi and Sailele may do well to remember that the Key is, not to be Rudd.
* The views expressed here are exclusively those of the author and are published by this newspaper on that sole understanding.
