Transcript
BORMANN: In a world of conflict, theres an island sanctuary that seems the last place anyone on earth would want to take on. Theres no oil to covet, nothing to plunder. Fiji is a mere speck in global politics. This is also a place where tradition means everything. Where the fighting men of the tribes have come together in a formidable modern day force. Without enemies from the outside, the menace has always come from within.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: The greatest challenge I have is ensuring that my mens loyalty dont go anywhere else.
BORMANN: For many in this country, Fiji is the army and the army is Fiji. Its a cornerstone of the society. Just as the tribes give identity to indigenous people, so the army defines their stature. The military is a job, a family and a way of life.
In a school ground in Lautoka, the students of Natabua High School are on parade. Nine hundred boys and girls here are in the army cadets. This is their passing out ceremony.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Okay son, you are the platoon sergeant okay. Get the boys in, get them in, inspect your boys okay?
SAVENACA DELANA: [School cadet] Yes
BORMANN: Fifteen year old Savenaca Delana is getting a last minute pep talk from his father.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: [Inspecting his sons clothes] Wrinkles. Go through the instruction if you have enough time. Otherwise check them into the classrooms now, check the best.
SAVENACA DELANA: Yes
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Yes what?
SAVENACA DELANA: Yes sir.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Yeah thats better.
BORMANN: Savenaca has no choice but to be here. Cadet training is compulsory in Fiji and theres a strong military tradition in his family. In part, a tradition inherited from the British, the colonial power here until 1970.
SAVENACA DELANA: I learned plenty things, like the NCOs and it teaches me to listen, to help out when I grow up - to listen to my boss, listen to commands.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: [To group of young men] The most important is?
GROUP ANSWERS: Love.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Love.
BORMANN: A few hours later, Savenacas father is at it again, this time with even more passion.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Look at the person sitting there beside you and tell him have faith in me!
BORMANN: With religious zeal, Corporal Emosi Delana is revving some grown up soldiers, the army rugby team.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: We will overcome that mountain. We will conquer that mountain through our love, for each other and our love for our enemies and that is the public works department team that we are going to play against today.
BORMANN: In this highly structured society, discipline and loyalty are the virtues of a modern holy trinity. The green tribe, the church and rugby.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: We have values in the military. Dedication to duty, a will to win, family, integrity, teamwork, courage all these are values that we look up, something that we always do in the military.
BORMANN: Those values have taken Fijis finest around the world. For a quarter of a century theyve staked a reputation as feared but respected professional soldiers. The nations most famous export is its UN peacekeepers. Theyve served everywhere from the Sinai to the Solomons to Iraq.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: In East Timor we got so close to the people, in Lebanon same thing. We get very close to the people. Theres something about us Fijians is we care a lot in we care for each other.
BORMANN: Not only has Fijis military grown in international stature but its become an economic force as well, sending their UN wages home has helped transform the military into Fijis biggest industry after tourism and sugar. Another major source of cash comes from the remittances of another three thousand Fijians serving in the British Army.
And now, private military contractors are muscling in on this lucrative labour pool, luring soldiers out of uniform with promises of big money. Colonial Saviusa Raivoce no longer serves in the army, neither do these men who obey his orders. They and two thousand other compatriots have joined private companies providing security in Iraq where the best can earn several hundred dollars a day, serious money in anyones language.
LT COLONEL SAVIUSA RAIVOCE: [Managing Director, Global Risk] Im looking for men who have served in the military. In Iraq they provide security for the local contractors who are building infrastructures for the government. I think it is the pay that drives them and also the excitement of going to another country. As probably youve seen in Fiji, theres not much work here for them.
How was the tour Eric?
ERIC: [Global Risk recruitee] I enjoyed the tour.
BORMANN: Eric Krishnan is back for a four week break to see his family.
ERIC KRISHNAN: Really interesting the situation on the ground in Baghdad. It excites you every day and keeps you going.
BORMANN: But any gaps in the ranks are rapidly filled. In the villages, theres an endless supply of recruits for the real army and this is the man they serve under.
[Introducing himself] Trevor Bormann from the ABC, Foreign Correspondent Programme.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Good morning. I understand we have an interview Tuesday?
BORMANN: Commodore Frank Bainimarama is one of the most powerful men in this country, a navy officer commanding a force dominated by the army hes not about to let anyone undermine him or his authority.
Why then do you need such a big military?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: I dont know. What do you mean by a big military?
BORMANN: Well there are eight hundred thousand people or more in Fiji and you have, by proportion, quite a large army, about three and a half thousand soldiers.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Oh thats large!
BORMANN: It is large. So why do you need such a large army?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Well one, one in the past weve had a lot of deployments.
BORMANN: But all is not well in paradise. Its been that way for several years. Theres something that gnaws at the heart of some indigenous Fijians. Its all about sharing their lives and sharing this nation with that other group here, the Indians and as you might expect, its a situation the army just cant keep out of.
Indo Fijians arrived as indentured labourers in the 19th century and until a few years ago outnumbered indigenous people. But thousands fled after two military coups in 1987, triggered by fears that ethnic Indians were dominating society.
Fijis Constitution guarantees indigenous people ownership of most of the land but there are still those here who tell you the Indians are taking over. Its a paranoia that drives the ambitions of nationalists like Ropate Sivo.
ROPATE SIVO: [Nationalist Politician Secretary of Matanitu Party] Being indigenous, that is just to me thats a divine race from God. Okay? Rotuman, the Chinese these separations - thats a divine separation from God.
BORMANN: It was the same anti Indian sentiment that helped drive businessman George Speight through the gates of the Fijian Parliament in May 2000.
GEORGE SPEIGHT: [Archive footage] Ive executed the coup. Ive toppled the government. Ive detained their members and Ive made very clear you know, Ive got a clear objective and Im not going to sway from it.
BORMANN: He and his gang of gunmen held the parliament and its Indo Fijian Prime Minister captive for several weeks. Taken hostage too was Health Minister, Lavenia Padarath.
LAVENIA PADARATH: [Former Minister for Health] We were held for the thirty-seven days, the experience was dreadful, a frightening experience. I wouldnt want like to go over it again I hope. Our men slept exactly where they sat during the Parliament session, just below it, and the women chose to go up into the public gallery. We pushed some of the chairs out to make room and we were on the floor.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: [Archive footage] I have with much reluctance assumed executive authority of the country and henceforth declared martial law.
BORMANN: It was Commodore Frank Bainimarama who took control, negotiating a new government and finally arresting George Speight but that wasnt the end of it. A few months later, renegade soldiers staged a mutiny at Queen Elizabeth barracks. Four loyalist soldiers were killed and four rebels were overpowered and beaten to death by Bainimaramas men. The mutineers were coming after their commander. From that moment it became personal.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: For one thing, George Speight is not going to be let out of gaol. Thats not going to happen.
BORMANN: The memories of the 2000 coup are still fresh in the mind of the Commander and for a very good reason. This month Fijis Parliament may pass an Act of Reconciliation that could lead to amnesty for George Speight and the other conspirators.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: If George Speight was let out because of this Bill, it will be 2000 all over again.
BORMANN: Its all about forgiveness and moving on but those less charitable see it as a cynical attempt by the Government to garner support from the Speight camp before next years elections.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: We think its just a ruse by the government of the day to release people that were involved in parliament who are friends of theirs so they can get the Fijian vote.
BORMANN: The commanders game plan to keep George Speight behind bars is all the talk of Fiji. Hes hinted that if Speight is released, hell overthrow the government and declare marital law. The 2000 coup breaker would be come coup maker, the game would turn ugly.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Its divided the whole of the country. Its divided races, its divided families, its divided friends because it reminds us of the events of 2000.
BORMANN: And if theres any doubt that Fijis neighbours are worried, just look at whos coming to see him.
ALEXANDER DOWNER: [Foreign Minister, Australia] We dont want to see amnesties granted to the central figures in the 2000 coup but I certainly at the same time dont want to see the military just once more seize control of the county.
BORMANN: Despite the diplomatic niceties for the cameras, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer delivers a blunt warning to the army, stay out of politics.
ALEXANDER DOWNER: I think it will destroy Fiji if that happens. I think if theres another coup in Fiji the economy will completely collapse, its the last thing this country wants.
BORMANN: But there is another force in this country, its the only real counterbalance to Fijis military tribe. On a Saturday night in Suva, its the only authority most Fijians would ever look towards to protect them and maintain law and order. Indo Fijians make up only two per of the army but they compromise more than a third of the police service.
This force has recruited an Australian Federal Police Officer as its commander and as if Andrew Hughes isnt busy enough combating every day crime, he also has the massive and the politically delicate job of cleaning up from the events of five years ago.
COMMISSIONER ANDREW HUGHES: [Chief of Fiji Police] We have charged over two and a half thousand people for various offences up to and including the second highest officer holder in the land in the form of Vice President, Deputy Speaker, cabinet ministers, military, police so you know we havent in any sense edited out who we shouldnt charge.
BORMANN: As Fiji lurches towards another potential crisis, the Commissioner has called for everyone to calm down and take a deep breath.
COMMISSIONER ANDREW HUGHES: Look were not going to confront the military. Theres no way that my men and women would be, well you know morally in a position to do it but also simply from the logistical point of view and the capacity of the police to offer any form of resistance to the military.
BORMANN: The bottom line is that this is a small nation with a big army and its Commander has a reputation for having his way.
Is it true though, that in negotiating for an extension of your tenure, you waived a pistol around in the Home Affairs Office?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Youre not going to come up with these questions. What are you talking about? Who gave you these questions?
BORMANN: Well these are things that have been written about in the media, sir.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: They all lies so I dont see the reason why you should come up with these questions now when you had totally, all of a sudden you came up with a question about me waiving a pistol around the place.
BORMANN: No but sir
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: I never waived a pistol at anybody.
BORMANN: Its good that you, its good that you
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Thank you. Can you now leave? Thank you very much.
BORMANN: In their formative years, another group of Fijian cadets have had their first taste of military life.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: I believe the thing about us is that we have so much pride in our country. As the saying goes, its in the blood.
BORMANN: The green tribe marches on firm in the belief that its the self anointed guardian of the national interest whatever that may be but many watching the passing parade fear the army may drag them into a world of chaos and anarchy.
BORMANN: In a world of conflict, theres an island sanctuary that seems the last place anyone on earth would want to take on. Theres no oil to covet, nothing to plunder. Fiji is a mere speck in global politics. This is also a place where tradition means everything. Where the fighting men of the tribes have come together in a formidable modern day force. Without enemies from the outside, the menace has always come from within.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: The greatest challenge I have is ensuring that my mens loyalty dont go anywhere else.
BORMANN: For many in this country, Fiji is the army and the army is Fiji. Its a cornerstone of the society. Just as the tribes give identity to indigenous people, so the army defines their stature. The military is a job, a family and a way of life.
In a school ground in Lautoka, the students of Natabua High School are on parade. Nine hundred boys and girls here are in the army cadets. This is their passing out ceremony.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Okay son, you are the platoon sergeant okay. Get the boys in, get them in, inspect your boys okay?
SAVENACA DELANA: [School cadet] Yes
BORMANN: Fifteen year old Savenaca Delana is getting a last minute pep talk from his father.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: [Inspecting his sons clothes] Wrinkles. Go through the instruction if you have enough time. Otherwise check them into the classrooms now, check the best.
SAVENACA DELANA: Yes
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Yes what?
SAVENACA DELANA: Yes sir.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Yeah thats better.
BORMANN: Savenaca has no choice but to be here. Cadet training is compulsory in Fiji and theres a strong military tradition in his family. In part, a tradition inherited from the British, the colonial power here until 1970.
SAVENACA DELANA: I learned plenty things, like the NCOs and it teaches me to listen, to help out when I grow up - to listen to my boss, listen to commands.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: [To group of young men] The most important is?
GROUP ANSWERS: Love.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Love.
BORMANN: A few hours later, Savenacas father is at it again, this time with even more passion.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: Look at the person sitting there beside you and tell him have faith in me!
BORMANN: With religious zeal, Corporal Emosi Delana is revving some grown up soldiers, the army rugby team.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: We will overcome that mountain. We will conquer that mountain through our love, for each other and our love for our enemies and that is the public works department team that we are going to play against today.
BORMANN: In this highly structured society, discipline and loyalty are the virtues of a modern holy trinity. The green tribe, the church and rugby.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: We have values in the military. Dedication to duty, a will to win, family, integrity, teamwork, courage all these are values that we look up, something that we always do in the military.
BORMANN: Those values have taken Fijis finest around the world. For a quarter of a century theyve staked a reputation as feared but respected professional soldiers. The nations most famous export is its UN peacekeepers. Theyve served everywhere from the Sinai to the Solomons to Iraq.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: In East Timor we got so close to the people, in Lebanon same thing. We get very close to the people. Theres something about us Fijians is we care a lot in we care for each other.
BORMANN: Not only has Fijis military grown in international stature but its become an economic force as well, sending their UN wages home has helped transform the military into Fijis biggest industry after tourism and sugar. Another major source of cash comes from the remittances of another three thousand Fijians serving in the British Army.
And now, private military contractors are muscling in on this lucrative labour pool, luring soldiers out of uniform with promises of big money. Colonial Saviusa Raivoce no longer serves in the army, neither do these men who obey his orders. They and two thousand other compatriots have joined private companies providing security in Iraq where the best can earn several hundred dollars a day, serious money in anyones language.
LT COLONEL SAVIUSA RAIVOCE: [Managing Director, Global Risk] Im looking for men who have served in the military. In Iraq they provide security for the local contractors who are building infrastructures for the government. I think it is the pay that drives them and also the excitement of going to another country. As probably youve seen in Fiji, theres not much work here for them.
How was the tour Eric?
ERIC: [Global Risk recruitee] I enjoyed the tour.
BORMANN: Eric Krishnan is back for a four week break to see his family.
ERIC KRISHNAN: Really interesting the situation on the ground in Baghdad. It excites you every day and keeps you going.
BORMANN: But any gaps in the ranks are rapidly filled. In the villages, theres an endless supply of recruits for the real army and this is the man they serve under.
[Introducing himself] Trevor Bormann from the ABC, Foreign Correspondent Programme.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Good morning. I understand we have an interview Tuesday?
BORMANN: Commodore Frank Bainimarama is one of the most powerful men in this country, a navy officer commanding a force dominated by the army hes not about to let anyone undermine him or his authority.
Why then do you need such a big military?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: I dont know. What do you mean by a big military?
BORMANN: Well there are eight hundred thousand people or more in Fiji and you have, by proportion, quite a large army, about three and a half thousand soldiers.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Oh thats large!
BORMANN: It is large. So why do you need such a large army?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Well one, one in the past weve had a lot of deployments.
BORMANN: But all is not well in paradise. Its been that way for several years. Theres something that gnaws at the heart of some indigenous Fijians. Its all about sharing their lives and sharing this nation with that other group here, the Indians and as you might expect, its a situation the army just cant keep out of.
Indo Fijians arrived as indentured labourers in the 19th century and until a few years ago outnumbered indigenous people. But thousands fled after two military coups in 1987, triggered by fears that ethnic Indians were dominating society.
Fijis Constitution guarantees indigenous people ownership of most of the land but there are still those here who tell you the Indians are taking over. Its a paranoia that drives the ambitions of nationalists like Ropate Sivo.
ROPATE SIVO: [Nationalist Politician Secretary of Matanitu Party] Being indigenous, that is just to me thats a divine race from God. Okay? Rotuman, the Chinese these separations - thats a divine separation from God.
BORMANN: It was the same anti Indian sentiment that helped drive businessman George Speight through the gates of the Fijian Parliament in May 2000.
GEORGE SPEIGHT: [Archive footage] Ive executed the coup. Ive toppled the government. Ive detained their members and Ive made very clear you know, Ive got a clear objective and Im not going to sway from it.
BORMANN: He and his gang of gunmen held the parliament and its Indo Fijian Prime Minister captive for several weeks. Taken hostage too was Health Minister, Lavenia Padarath.
LAVENIA PADARATH: [Former Minister for Health] We were held for the thirty-seven days, the experience was dreadful, a frightening experience. I wouldnt want like to go over it again I hope. Our men slept exactly where they sat during the Parliament session, just below it, and the women chose to go up into the public gallery. We pushed some of the chairs out to make room and we were on the floor.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: [Archive footage] I have with much reluctance assumed executive authority of the country and henceforth declared martial law.
BORMANN: It was Commodore Frank Bainimarama who took control, negotiating a new government and finally arresting George Speight but that wasnt the end of it. A few months later, renegade soldiers staged a mutiny at Queen Elizabeth barracks. Four loyalist soldiers were killed and four rebels were overpowered and beaten to death by Bainimaramas men. The mutineers were coming after their commander. From that moment it became personal.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: For one thing, George Speight is not going to be let out of gaol. Thats not going to happen.
BORMANN: The memories of the 2000 coup are still fresh in the mind of the Commander and for a very good reason. This month Fijis Parliament may pass an Act of Reconciliation that could lead to amnesty for George Speight and the other conspirators.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: If George Speight was let out because of this Bill, it will be 2000 all over again.
BORMANN: Its all about forgiveness and moving on but those less charitable see it as a cynical attempt by the Government to garner support from the Speight camp before next years elections.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: We think its just a ruse by the government of the day to release people that were involved in parliament who are friends of theirs so they can get the Fijian vote.
BORMANN: The commanders game plan to keep George Speight behind bars is all the talk of Fiji. Hes hinted that if Speight is released, hell overthrow the government and declare marital law. The 2000 coup breaker would be come coup maker, the game would turn ugly.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Its divided the whole of the country. Its divided races, its divided families, its divided friends because it reminds us of the events of 2000.
BORMANN: And if theres any doubt that Fijis neighbours are worried, just look at whos coming to see him.
ALEXANDER DOWNER: [Foreign Minister, Australia] We dont want to see amnesties granted to the central figures in the 2000 coup but I certainly at the same time dont want to see the military just once more seize control of the county.
BORMANN: Despite the diplomatic niceties for the cameras, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer delivers a blunt warning to the army, stay out of politics.
ALEXANDER DOWNER: I think it will destroy Fiji if that happens. I think if theres another coup in Fiji the economy will completely collapse, its the last thing this country wants.
BORMANN: But there is another force in this country, its the only real counterbalance to Fijis military tribe. On a Saturday night in Suva, its the only authority most Fijians would ever look towards to protect them and maintain law and order. Indo Fijians make up only two per of the army but they compromise more than a third of the police service.
This force has recruited an Australian Federal Police Officer as its commander and as if Andrew Hughes isnt busy enough combating every day crime, he also has the massive and the politically delicate job of cleaning up from the events of five years ago.
COMMISSIONER ANDREW HUGHES: [Chief of Fiji Police] We have charged over two and a half thousand people for various offences up to and including the second highest officer holder in the land in the form of Vice President, Deputy Speaker, cabinet ministers, military, police so you know we havent in any sense edited out who we shouldnt charge.
BORMANN: As Fiji lurches towards another potential crisis, the Commissioner has called for everyone to calm down and take a deep breath.
COMMISSIONER ANDREW HUGHES: Look were not going to confront the military. Theres no way that my men and women would be, well you know morally in a position to do it but also simply from the logistical point of view and the capacity of the police to offer any form of resistance to the military.
BORMANN: The bottom line is that this is a small nation with a big army and its Commander has a reputation for having his way.
Is it true though, that in negotiating for an extension of your tenure, you waived a pistol around in the Home Affairs Office?
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Youre not going to come up with these questions. What are you talking about? Who gave you these questions?
BORMANN: Well these are things that have been written about in the media, sir.
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: They all lies so I dont see the reason why you should come up with these questions now when you had totally, all of a sudden you came up with a question about me waiving a pistol around the place.
BORMANN: No but sir
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: I never waived a pistol at anybody.
BORMANN: Its good that you, its good that you
COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA: Thank you. Can you now leave? Thank you very much.
BORMANN: In their formative years, another group of Fijian cadets have had their first taste of military life.
CORPORAL EMOSI DELANA: I believe the thing about us is that we have so much pride in our country. As the saying goes, its in the blood.
BORMANN: The green tribe marches on firm in the belief that its the self anointed guardian of the national interest whatever that may be but many watching the passing parade fear the army may drag them into a world of chaos and anarchy.