In 1987, Fiji was in turmoil. France moved in with a full-fledged embassy and its ambassador pinned the Legion of Honor on Maj Gen Rabuka. Israel proudly established an embassy in Fiji and its soldiers tried unsuccessfully to take over military training in Fiji. India's protests at the coups lead to its embassy being first downgraded and later shut down. Significantly, after the restoration of democracy in Fiji, France and Israel beat a hasty retreat, while India swiftly sent an ambassador after Chaudhry's victory.
Coups are the most cynical form of power grabbing.
In the end the Speights of the world, the cowboy soldiers of fortune, end up hurting the people they profess to protect. We now may have an uprising which only time can quell. I knew Sam Speight, the father of George Speight. I was his lawyer in a little legal skirmish that he had. Would you say to George, 'Well done, my son.