Page 35 - IB December 2023

Opinion Opinion

interest, as in December 2006 when it overthrew the Qarase he did come close to making that claim, when RFMF Chief of
government. The RFMF Commander, Jone Kalouniwai, is Staff, in an article in the Fiji Sun on 26th July 2017 in which
aware of these dangers. As he wrote in his book Democratic he criticised the view “that the RFMF should remain at the
Transitions Leading to Ethnic Conflicts in Fiji, the 2006 side lines and watch silently … until the glass house breaks
coup—like those of 1987 and 2000—‘not only harmed political and shatters into very tiny glass pieces.” In fact, authoritarian
institutions, but also adversely affected Fiji’s democratic and regimes have an extremely poor record in handling ethnic
developmental prospects’. cleavages, as the histories of Myanmar, Rwanda, Indonesia and
The Commander’s monograph, available on Amazon, derives Uganda show, and they have a still poorer record in fostering
from his 2008 dissertation submitted to the University of any restoration of democracy.
Madras affiliated Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, In the wake of long periods of semi-authoritarian rule, one
New Zealand. Influenced by the literature opposed to early frequently encounters heavy criticism of civilian governments
post-conflict elections in Bosnia and Iraq, it is highly critical of (for example, in coup-prone states like Pakistan and Nigeria).
international pressure towards ‘the immediate reinstatement But military governments do not have a better record in
of democracy’ in deeply ethnically divided polities. Major government than civilian administrations and, critically, once
General Kalouniwai argues that “markets concentrate wealth, in office it is exceptionally difficult to kick them out. They
often spectacular wealth, in the hands of the market- tend to clamp down on the media, harass opposition figures
dominant minority, while democracy increases the political and undermine the rule of law. As Major General Kalouniwai
power of the impoverished majority. In these circumstances, rightly acknowledged in his dissertation, all the coups in Fiji
the pursuit of free market democracy becomes an engine deeply damaged the country’s political institutions, as well as
of potentially catastrophic ethno-nationalism, pitting a its development prospects.
frustrated Indigenous majority, easily aroused by opportunistic
politicians, against a resented wealthy ethnic minority.” Jon Fraenkel is Professor of Comparative Politics, Victoria
He finds evidence of such dangers in Trinidad and Tobago, University of Wellington.
Indonesia, Rwanda and East Africa, but it is obvious that Fiji,
with its Fiji Indian ‘market-dominant minority’, is the primary The opinions expressed in this article are those of the
reference point. author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this
In his dissertation, the Commander does not explicitly argue publication.
for military control in those deeply divided countries, but

TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE IN
TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE MICRONESIA AND PALAU
Notice is hereby given that Asahi Group Holdings, UNITED AIRLINES, INC., a Delaware corporation, of 233 S. Wacker
Ltd, a joint-stock company duly organised under the Drive, 11th Floor-HDQLD, Chicago, Illinois 60606, United States of
AJ TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE IN MICRONESIA, MARSHALL ISLANDS,
laws of Japan, of 23-1, Azumabashi 1-chome, Sumida- America, does hereby provide notice that it claims proprietorship of
AND PALAU the trade mark
ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the sole proprietor in Palau, the
Notice is hereby given that Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd, a joint-stock company duly organised under the laws of
Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands UNITED
Japan, Manufacturers and Merchants of 23-1, Azumabashi 1-chome, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the sole
proprietor in Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and elsewhere of the following
and elsewhere of the following trade mark: in relation to:
trade mark:

Transportation of persons, property and mail by air; airline check-
in services; travel ticket reservation services; online transportation
reservation services; providing a website featuring information
on travel; travel information; and booking of tickets for travel;
developing, arranging, and making reservations of vacation and
Used in respect of:-
tour packages for others, in the nature of making reservations
Beer - Class 32 and bookings for transportation; travel agency services,
The said proprietor claims all rights in respect of the above trade mark and will take all necessary legal steps namely, making reservations and bookings for transportation,
Used in respect of:-
against any person or company infringing their said rights.
flights, and automobile rentals; providing a website featuring
DAVIES COLLISON CAVE PTY LTD
Beer - Class 32 information on travel; packaged vacation booking services in the
Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys nature of making reservations and bookings for transportation;
The said proprietor claims all rights in respect of the coordinating travel arrangements for individuals and for groups.
255 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, New South Wales, 2000
above trade mark and will take all necessary legal UNITED AIRLINES, INC. cautions that any use of the trade mark
AUSTRALIA
steps against any person or company infringing their or any confusingly similar trade mark in relation to any of these
said rights. services or similar services, would be seen as infringement of their
rights and that they will take such action deemed necessary to
DAVIES COLLISON CAVE PTY LTD protect those rights.
Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys UNITED AIRLINES, INC. can be contacted care of their address
Level 4, 7 Macquarie Place, Sydney for service:
New South Wales 2000, Australia AJ Park, Level 22, Aon Centre, 1 Willis Street, Wellington 6011,
New Zealand, mail@ajpark.com
Islands Business, December 2023 35