Fiji has no constitution and as yet, no judiciary. However, that is no matter for interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama who says he will simply implement new decrees to be issued by the president in the following days.
One of those decrees has resulted in total censorship of the local media. Bainimarama promises more to come.
It is reminiscent of when Bainimarama first staged his coup in 2006, deposing the Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and assuming control - both of parliament and the media.
While Fiji's 6:00pm news last night suffered severe censorship, the Sunday edition of the Fiji Times was filled with blank spaces where the Government has banned political stories from being printed.
Page two originally contained a story and photograph of 3 News being denied entry to Bainimarama's press conference
Journalists say it is ironic as Commodore Bainimarama's speech to the nation was then screened in full.
“My fellow citizens, under a new legal order, I as Prime Minister, the cabinet ministers and security forces endorse, support and shall implement the vision, direction and decrees of his Excellency our president,” said Bainimarama.
So far the President’s decrees have dissolved the constitution, reappointed Bainimarama and his cabinet, clamped down on the media and ruled that all new laws to be made must be enforced.
“The office of the President is no longer apolitical,” said Peceli Kinivuwai. “He has taken sides.”
So despite a court of appeal ruling Bainimarama's interim Government illegal, he is still very much in charge here.
“He has complete control,” stated Daryl Tarte. “It's as if the court case never happened - it's just business as usual.”
Sdl party leader Peceli Kinivuwai is angry his party's victory at court meant nothing
“He has totally disregarded the court's decision, the existence of a court system in Fiji,” said Kinivuwai. “It shows the character of the man and style of leadership prevailing in this country.”
Fijians say that military leadership's trump card is its guns.
“They're the only guns in Fiji,” continues Tarte. “They have the power nobody else in Fiji has - any firearms whatsoever."
While censorship stops Fijians from seeing it on their televisions, international condemnation of Bainimarama's regime is growing.
“Australia condemns unequivocally this action by the military ruler of Fiji to turn this great country into virtually a military dictatorship," stated Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
People in Fiji say there is nothing they can do. With a military government running the country, resignation is widespread.
3 News