By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Despite more than 10,000 miles in between, Fiji’s party leaders are regarding the U.S. presidential election as a model for the kind of democracy Fiji hopes to reestablish through its elections.

Some South Pacific leaders believe Mr. Obama’s election will result in better relations between America and South Pacific nations. Other leaders are uncertain as to whether Mr. Obama’s administration will have any significant affect on the South Pacific region.

But in the midst of Fiji’s political turmoil, many Fijian party leaders are viewing Mr. Obama’s election as inspirational and as a possible democratic model to emulate.

In 2006, the Interim Prime Minister,Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, led a military takeover of Fiji’s Federal Government. In October, the High Court in Fiji ruled that the 2006 coup was legitimate. Fiji’s ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, has challenged that decision, calling it a “miscarriage of justice.”

In response to the U.S. election, Mr. Qarase offered congratulations to Mr. Obama. In particular, Mr. Qarase believes that this American presidential election projects a strong message of democracy to not only Fiji, but to countries around the world.

In fact, throughout the South Pacific, nations have risen in support of the American presidential election. American Samoa’s Democratic Congressman, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, has said Mr. Obama’s election marks the most significant U.S. election in the last hundred years. Mr. Faleomavaega believes Mr. Obama’s election is not only important for U.S. States, but also for U.S. Pacific territories. During an interview, Mr. Faleomavaega specifically spoke of the racial ramifications of Mr. Obama’s selection:

“. . . the character of the man (are what matter)… which is what Dr Martin Luther King Jr had dreamed about some sixty years ago, that one day his children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. And I have to say to the American people, I’m just so proud to see that they made the judgement on the character of the man and not because of his race,” Mr. Faleomavaega said.

In Indonesia, students from Mr. Obama’s old elementary school danced with excitement in the rain after hearing the news. President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has congratulated Barrack Obama, saying that Indonesia has a “special affection” for him. Mr. Obama lived with his American mother and Indonesian stepfather from the age of 6 to 10. The Indonesian President believes Mr. Obama will have special insight into Indonesia’s culture as well as its problems.

But Fiji leaders believe that Mr. Obama’s election holds a special significance for them as they struggle to rebuild a democracy.

“For Fiji, there is a clear message out of Obama’s victory, the people of Fiji want democracy and an early election. We want leaders chosen by the people, we don’t want leaders forced on us.” Mr. Qarase added, “SDL’s hope is that Obama’s victory will encourage the interim regime to hold elections as early as possible in 2009,” Mr. Qarase said.

Fiji’s United People’s Party, led by Mick Beddoes, says that Mr. Obama’s election gives hope that, “one day we in Fiji will elect the smartest person as prime minister, which gives me hope that one day we will see a member from the minority community in Fiji elected by the majority Fijians and Indians to be prime minister of Fiji.”

While most party leaders believe the U.S. election will affect the South Pacific, other commentators are skeptical. Fiji business tycoon, Hari Punja, says Mr. Obama’s election will have a “negligible” impact at most on Fiji. Mr. Punja attributes this to the U.S. Democratic party’s tendency to address domestic concerns over global ones.

“. . . in the past America has been very benevolent and may not be as benevolent as from now on. Because America will say we will do what is good for us rather than what was good for the world,” Mr. Punja said.

But Fiji People’s Party general secretary, Charan Jeath Singh, says the impact of the U.S. election is more symbolic and hopeful.

“In a nutshell, it gives us a strong message on how we should operate. We must respect democracy and the Government should be allowed to run its full term,” Mr. Singh said.

While many leaders are pushing for Bainimarama to hold democratic elections as soon as possible, no date has been set.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times – Reactions to Obama’s victory – 06 November 2008

Fiji Times – No impact, says Punja – 06 November 2008

International Business Times – Reaction to Obama elected 1st black US president – 05 November 2008

Radio New Zealand International – American Samoa congressman hails Obama victory – 05 November 2008