Coup of 2006
State of emergency declared
PART 5
ON December, 2006 a State of Emergency was declared by the Fiji military. The military commander at the time, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama gazetted his declaration of a State of Emergency in the country and had sworn in a caretaker Prime Minister. This newspaper reported that in the "extraordinary" Gazette, Commodore Bainimarama announced he had assumed executive authority "with much reluctance" at 6pm on Tuesday December 5. In the Gazette, Commodore Bainimarama declared the primary objective of his government was to take the country towards good governance, get rid of corruption and bad practices and promote Fiji's wellbeing at the earliest possible opportunity. He had put in place measures to ensure the smooth operation of government. "A two-tier cordon will be placed around the greater Suva area. There will be checkpoints at strategic locations but with less hindrance to the general public, especially in the protection of property and personnel," he said. He said the military reserved the right to impose curfew, if it saw a need to do so but he said normal daily activities should continue without any hindrance. He ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his Cabinet from power, declaring that he was stepping into President Ratu Josefa Iloilo's shoes as the Head of State. December 6 saw the swearing in of the caretaker Prime Minister, Jona Senilagakali at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua. The 77-year-old doctor from Waciwaci, Lakeba in Lau took his oath of office in front of Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama in the Officers Mess at Nabua. Before his swearing-in, Dr Senilagakali said his task was to cut down government expenditure and he believed the military would be able to improve the lives of the people of Fiji. "First of all, I would like to cut down on government expenditure. I think this has been one of the problems," he said. "I'm going to do something that people probably won't believe. I certainly don't want to draw the salary of a Prime Minister. I'd like draw much less than that and I hope that people who will come into the Cabinet will be able to do the same."
Dr Senilagakali said they had to show to the people that if they were serving the people, they must be prepared to sacrifice.
"It was a challenge, if I can do something useful for the people of Fiji, I think I'll die a very happy life.
"I think I still have that stamina, the ability to do that, all my life it's been service to the people, I've never thought of myself as a master," he said.
When questioned about the legality of his position he referred the question to the commander.
As for being an interim PM, he said "it doesn't change my life at all, I'm here to do someone's work and I'm going to do it".
He said his appointment depended on the commander and the military council.
He said a military council had been established and it would decide when the general elections would take place.
He said senior staff made up the council and he had been invited to attend its first meeting – which he did.
"I'm obliged to do whatever the commander tells me to do," he said.
"When I came in, I took an oath. They tell me what to do. I have no choice but to oblige."
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was expected to make a statement.
Mr Qarase and his wife flew out of Suva on December 6 to Mr Qarase's village in Vanuabalavu, Lau but said it was for a short break.
Mr Qarase who was put under house arrest by the military on December 5 said he arrived safely in his village of Mavana.
"I'm coming to spend a few days here," he said.
"I'm coming for a break, but I will be linking up with my fellow parliamentarians.
"It's more relaxed here." Mr Qarase said he believed there had been a plan to transport him to Vanuabalavu on a naval boat.
"But I got here (Mavana) first," he said.
He said he was not sure when he would return to Suva.
"I'll see how things go," he said.
Mr Qarase said that he stood firmly in support and defense of the Constitution, the rule of law and parliamentary democracy in Fiji.