Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Photo / Greg Bowker.
Fiji's coup leader Frank Bainimarama has extended his political control in the South Pacific nation, appointing himself head of the country's powerful council of chiefs.
Commodore Bainimarama seized power in a bloodless coup in December 2006 and dissolved parliament, appointing himself prime minister.
Today he furthered his control
of the country after gazetting new regulations that would enable him to lead the Great Council of Chiefs.
The chiefs, most of whom are appointed by provincial councils, have huge influence over indigenous villagers in Fiji.
The organisation also appoints the country's presidents and vice presidents, and have been critics of Bainimarama's regime since he took office.
In April last year Bainimarama sacked the organisation's 62 chiefs and suspended the organisation, pending a taskforce report.
The move came after the chiefs refused to endorse his government or back his choice of vice president.
The taskforce this week reported its findings to Fiji's interim government.
Dr Steven Ratuva from the University of the South Pacific said Bainimarama's move to make himself head of the chiefs surprised many, and could be a bid to ensure the new-look council was more friendly than the last one.
Although Fiji's 14 provinces, plus the island of Rotuma, will elect 45 of the 52 chiefs under the system, Bainimarama will be able to screen those appointees, Ratuva said.
"He (Bainimarama) has a lot of power in terms of the decision making process, but the appointment is actually done by the provinces themselves.
"What he will probably do as chairman is to screen those who are appointed by the various provinces to see whether they are so-called clean or so-called dirty - whether they are reliable," Ratuva said.
The push to overhaul the Great Council of Chiefs is likely part of Bainimarama's plan to change politics in his country.
He has previously called his country's electoral system "institutionalised racism" and believes it is unfair because it gives too much power to indigenous Fijians.
- AAP
