Letters

Can Rabuka do a Costa Rica?

SITIVENI Rabuka said in his interview (PIM August 1990) that he wanted the military to concentrate on national defence against external threats. He also wanted a military pact, possibily with France.

Which nation in the South Pacific has the intention or military capacity to

invade Fiji successfully?

Tonga? Kiribati?

Vanuatu? Apart from France, Australia is perhaps the only regional power with the ability to mount a serious invasion of Fiji.

However, I can’t think of any reason for Australia to invade Fiji when

its interests there are quite well secured

peacefully through employing local

people.

Nevertheless, let us assume for a moment that a major power like Australia or Japan or USSR were to invade Fiji; would the forces under Rabuka’s command be able to defend the country? In this unlikely scenario of a military pact with France, can we realistically expect France to then declare war on the invader?

Rabuka now aspires to be Prime Minister, even though he has not demonstrated a brilliant grasp of what is supposed to be his area of professional expertise, i.e.

military strategic

understanding.

He said he believes the police force is adequate to deal with any law and order or conceivable domestic security problems. If so, then what is the purpose of the defence force that is gobbling

up resources better utilised in other areas? If he is really concerned with motivating Fijians to work hard, he could start with his own people in the barracks. Find each one a caneknife, a fork and a generous redundancy pay and send them home to plant or start a business.

We can emulate Costa Rica. Forty years ago, Costa Ricans decided that their armed forces talked too much rubbish and wasted time and money.

Their Parliament then abolished the lot by legislation while neighbouring military dictatorships continued to waste lives and money fighting each other and enemies within; neutral, unarmed Costa Rica remains one of the most peaceful and prosperous democracies in Latin America.

I can support Sitiveni Rabuka’s ambition to get into Parliament if he is prepared to do a Costa Rica. That will take a great deal more courage than leading the events of May 14,1987. In this, my hope is probably just as in vain as his hopes for a military defence pact with France.

Jone Akuvula,

Wellington