The Great Council of Chiefs did not bow to pressure
from Speight's supporters when it appointed Ratu Josefa
Iloilo president and Ratu Jope Seniloli as his deputy,
says GCC chairman Sitiveni Rabuka.
Both Ratu Josefa and Ratu Jope's names were endorsed
by Speight's camp. Rabuka says the chiefs were not
under any pressure at all to accept Speight's nominees.
"The President took a normal accession when the former
President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara decided not to be in
the running.
"The military, having intervened and being prepared to
hand over to a civilian government, it was appropriate for
them to go back to what was and with the declaration by
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara that he was not available for
re-election, it was natural for Ratu Josefa Iloilo to ascend
to the post," Rabuka said.
The Great Council of Chiefs has approved a blueprint
that looks at the advancement of indigenous Fijians.
The blueprint was prepared by the interim civilian
government led by Laisenia Qarase. Qarase presented
the blueprint yesterday to the GCC meeting.
Much of the measures proposed in the blueprint could
be implement in the next two years, Qarase says in the
presentation. However, it is also proposed that a 10-year
plan for Fijian and Rotuman development be prepared.
Today's meeting looked at four other resolutions that
was unanimously resolved by the members of the GCC.
This included the appointment of Tui Vuda Ratu Josefa
Iloilo as President, Ratu Jope Seniloli as interim Vice
President, the removal of roadblocks, takeovers of
airports, police stations and army garrisons around the
country.
The fifth resolution included setting up a planning
committee that is going to put together a thanksgiving
programme for the tireless job and dedication that the
Tui Nayau and former President and Prime Minister
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara has done for Fiji.
The military appointed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
has been endorsed by the new President Ratu Josefa
Iloilo to continue as the nation's leader.
This was decided at the Great Council of Chiefs meeting
which finished at 1.45 today. Qarase was picked by
military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama
last week.
An interim civilian government will be decided later by
the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and the Vice President
Ratu Jope Seniloli.
GCC chairman Sitiveni Rabuka at a press conference
after the meeting said the president and vice president
will be given time to appoint an interim government.
But no set timetable has been set for them to choose
who should be in the new interim administration, he
said.
In the meantime, the interim civilian administration that
was appointed by the military headed by Qarase will
continue in a caretaker role.
The Great Council of Chiefs has appointed Bau chief
Ratu Jope Seniloli the new interim vice president.
Ratu Jope was earlier sworn in as president by the rebel
group.
His name for vice president was put in by coup leader
George Speight and endorsed at a meeting of district
chiefs (Bose ni Turaga) convened at the Parliamentary
Complex on Wednesday.
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