Peace talks have resumed between the military and George Speight's
group. The meeting is being mediated by Naitasiri high chief Ratu
Inoke Takiveikata.
It is believed that the military has agreed in principle that army
commander Frank Bainimarama will step down as head of state and
convene a Great Council of Chiefs meeting to appoint a civilian
president if the hostages are released and arms surrendered on the
same day.
Meanwhile, the Korovou town in Tailevu is still under siege.
Speight's supporters, including some chiefs and relatives, took over
the Korovou Police Station and town this morning.
They are holding 16 policemen, nine soldiers and three government
workers (including the District Officer) at the Korovou police
station. Some of the villagers are armed with guns that they took
from the soldiers at a military checkpoint.
Bau chief and senior army officer Ratu George Cakobau, who was
negotiating with the Tailevu villagers, has arrived at the Nabua army
headquarters with their list of demands.
Among others, the villagers have four main demands:
Two roadblocks were also erected by villagers today - one blocking the main
Queen's Highway at Wailekutu in
Lami, just outside Suva. The other road blocked is a feeder road in Nabukavesi,
Namosi.
The roads are opened partially from time to time. Police say that the people
manning the roadblocks are getting
their instructions from within Parliament.
The other stand-off at Fiji Electricity Authority's Wailoa Power Generating
Station continues. Landowners
forced their way into the station and closed the main gate that supplies water
to the turbines.
Despite all these disturbances, the military says it is in control and these
situations might end once a peace
accord is signed.
The military has indefinitely suspended the setting up of the
Military Exclusion Zone around the Parliamentary Complex.
The final deadline for people to leave the MEZ was at midnight
yesterday.
However, the decision to suspend it was announced last night and
follows fresh negotiations between the military and George
Speight's team initiated by Naitasiri's paramount chief Ratu Inoke
Takiveikata.
Army spokesman Filipo Tarakinikini says the talks lasted until 3
this morning.
He said talks look promising and the release of hostages could be
hindered by the declaration of the MEZ.
It's been confirmed that the early morning armed takeover of
Korovou police station and Korovou town was led by some chiefs
and relatives of coup leader George Speight.
About 30 people, including police officers, government officials
based in Korovou and soldiers who were manning checkpoints are
being detained at the police station. A spokesman told the media that
they will continue to hold on until their demands are met.
All communication links from the police station were cut when 150
armed villagers took over the police station and town at around 9am.
Bau high chief and senior army officer Ratu George Cakobau is
negotiating with the villagers, who come from Tailevu north.
It's understood that Ratu George has been handed a petition
outlining the villagers demands and grievances. They three known
demands are that:
1) Commander and head of state Frank Bainimarama hand over
executive authority to a civilian president.
2) the Interim Administration be dissolved and replaced with a
Taukei government or a government to be decided by the Great
Council of Chiefs.
3) the military removes all checkpoints outside Parliament to allow
Speight's supporters to move in and out freely.
Speight is also from Tailevu.
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