My Say
Regional Peacekeeping
Will Pacific Armies Decide Who Governs?
A Papua New Guinea politician, Ted Diro, who was the first local commander of the PNG Defense Force, wants Pacific Island governments to act on a proposal for the creation of regional peacekeeping force. The idea was put forth some years ago by a former PNG Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan.
It would be a ready mobile unit able to help in peaceful situations as well as in threats to law and order and security, Diro says. But he hasn’t explained whether the creation of a permanent standing force would be contributed by the region’s four small armies, or just that the armies would be prepared to quickly dispatch pre-selected peacekeepers to a trouble spot.
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Fiji has more than 20 very honorable years of peacekeeping with the United Nations.
PNG’s army had a notable role in putting down a rebellion in Vanuatu in 1980. Fiji and Vanuatu’s so-called mobile force, which is really a small army, had small peacekeeping roles in Bougainville until recently.
The trouble with three of the Pacific’s armies is, of course, that they have become serious national liabilities and threats to national peace.
The Fiji army disgraced itself with two coups in 1987. Its true motive in again overthrowing the elected government after a so-called “civilian” coup in 2000 remains a matter for speculation.
It was embarrassed by a mutiny in 2000 that cost five lives. It has again been embarrassed by attempts in recent months to get rid of its commander and it continues to smolder as a bed of internal intrigue.
In Fiji there is emerging a view that the army, of about 3,500 men, regards itself now as does the military in Pakistan—as the final arbitrator of who the government is. Many Fiji Islanders believe that the army will do it again if and when it chooses; perhaps later this year?
The PNG army had a bad mutiny last year, it staged a near coup at the height of the 1990s Sandown mercenary affairs and it suffers bouts of serious indiscipline. Its performance is a national embarrassment.
The Vanuatu force has twice defied the government, the second incident occurring only last year. During the first incident, it briefly detained the then-president and prime minister.
Tonga’s army of 200-300 is now more than just a palace guard. It does training exercises with American special service units. What on earth for? It gives the impression of being quietly built up in recent years as a professional force. One dedicated to what? Defending Tonga against a sudden assault by China or, for that matter, by George W. Bush? Do Tonga’s authorities have the intention of resorting to military might to repress Tonga’s pro-democracy movement should it become too militant?
Diro’s vision, might be sabotaged by the fact that a Pacific peace-keeping force would need to be financed by the countries of the region contributing to a common fund. In that case, it would have to be a very, very modest army. Indeed, there might not be enough money in the kitty to have a regional force at all, which would be a blessing.
Robert Keith-Reid is publisher of Islands Business. He can be reached at: Rkeith-reid@ibi.com.fj
