The Fijian military has been called in to help police maintain order as political turmoil continues after the Pacific nation\u2019s election last week.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama lost power after 16 years when the kingmaker Social Liberal Democratic Party (SODELPA) sided with opposition parties to form a tripartite alliance.<\/p>\n
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Fiji Police set up checkpoints around the country in Suva, on December 18, following the election.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n The police force has now called in the military to assist with \u201cthe maintenance of security and stability\u201d, citing reports of stoning targeting the homes and businesses of Fijians of Indian descent.<\/p>\n Bainimarama met with Policing Minister Inia Seruiratu, Military Commander Major General Jone Kalouniwai and Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, where the action was decided unanimously.<\/p>\n \u201cThe continuous attacks on minority groups has aggravated the current tense situation,\u201d Qiliho said in a Thursday statement.<\/p>\n \u201c\u200bWhile the army and navy personnel have been called in to assist, police will continue to lead the overall security operations.\u201d<\/p>\n The nationalist FijiFirst government has refused to concede the election after the coalition announced it had the numbers to take power.<\/p>\n Fijian Prime Minsiter Bainimarama Josaia Voreqe after he casts his vote on December 14 in Suva.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n FijiFirst will command 26 seats while People\u2019s Alliance will have 21, the National Federation five, and SODELPA three. This puts 29 seats in the hands of the coalition, three more than Fiji First in the expanded 55-member parliament.<\/p>\n Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the prime minister and all ministers remained in power until the parliament officially votes on a new prime minister.<\/p>\n He also attacked the New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta for issuing a statement of congratulations to the government-elect on social media, calling the post premature.<\/p>\n Mahuta later told Reuters she was aware of the situation unfolding in Fiji and had encouraged all parties to allow the constitutional process to play out.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are aware of the statement from Fiji\u2019s Police Commissioner,\u201d she said. \u201cWe encourage all parties to allow the constitutional process to play out.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement on Facebook, Bainimarama said \u201creports of harassment suffered by our citizens and violence targeted at Indo-Fijian homes and businesses in the wake of the election are deeply disturbing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Opposition parties have disputed reports by police that businesses or homes of Fiji\u2019s large ethnic Indian population had been stoned after the election, and have called for evidence of this.<\/p>\n Prime minister-elect Sitiveni Rabuka and the leaders of the other opposition parties had called for Bainimarama and FijiFirst to abide by the election results and oversee the peaceful transition of power in the coup-prone nation.<\/p>\n Six days following the Fiji Election, Stitiveni Rabuka secured the role of prime minister after his party, the People\u2019s Alliance, struck a tripartite coalition deal.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad, whose party forms part of the new government coalition, said Sayed-Khaiyum was \u201cholding the country to ransom\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is inciting hate and violence. He is trying to create fear,\u201d Prasad said.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything he said was the sign of a bad loser, somebody who knows his party has been soundly rejected by the people of this country.\u201d<\/p>\n FijiFirst secured 42.5 per cent of the vote, while People\u2019s Alliance took 36 per cent, the National Federation Party nine per cent and SODELPA just above five per cent.<\/p>\n Prasad called for the police to investigate the attorney-general\u2019s conduct and language.<\/p>\n Bainimarama first seized power in a 2006 coup before installing himself as prime minister the year after. He won a majority at the 2014 and 2018 democratic elections before losing it at last week\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n It will be the second time Rabuka takes over the prime ministership after also taking power through a coup in 1987 before reinstating democratic elections in 1992. He then led the country until 1999.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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