The chiefs yesterday flexed their muscle leaving little doubt as to
who really runs the country.
What the military couldn't get after a month of negotiations, the
chiefs achieved within hours.
A delegation from the Great Council of Chiefs armed with an
ultimatum had the rebels releasing the hostages after a traditional
ceremony asking for forgiveness.
After eight weeks, the suddenness of the release took the country
off guard.
The chiefs - the real ones - are back, and they are back in control.
The Great Council of Chiefs today pulled the nation a step out of
the dark pit of racism and power plays without a dent on its halo.
One could say the military had set the scene for the chiefs to
come out of the situation untainted - but the volatile situation
could have just as easily painted the chiefs as power-hungry and
divided.
The military had been steadily losing ground to the rebels in the
past three weeks - the chiefs gave back a semblance of authority
to it today by standing up to coup leader George Speight.
The GCC gave an ultimatum for Speight to release the hostages if
he wanted a president to be appointment.
Speight, apparently quite knowingly, had breached the Muanikau
Accord by not releasing the hostages when the meeting started.
The upstart did get a start - Speight was almost falling over himself to ensure
the hostages got out in the best
possible frame of mind. He even gave former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
a hug.
After his release Chaudhry said he had no animosity towards Speight, the man
who had held him at the point
of a gun for 55 days straight.
Now Speight has to release his weapons to the army tomorrow.
But his supporters are in control of several key government outposts including
police stations and army
barracks, and could still create problems if they are not happy with the new
government.
But will he take on the might of the chiefs after agreeing to accept their
decision?
It is unlikely as the chiefs have already accepted his choice of President,
Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
The question still remains is how many of Speight's nominees will be in the
interim government.
The percentage will indicate whether the chiefs are really in control or have
they given way to Speight's
demands.
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last revision July 13, 2000