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SUVA: Fiji rebel leader George Speight's call for South Pacific people
to disrupt the Sydney Olympics in the name of indigenous rights was
today branded as "shameful" by the Sunday Post newspaper.
"It is one thing to plant the racial and religious seed of discord in
Fiji," said the paper in an editorial.
"And in doing so, make everybody's life hell by promoting thuggery and
violence on the tip of a gun, hiding behind the skirts and sulus of
hostages and glorifying in the misguided fame of support from a bunch of
misguided merrymaking people.
"It is however, quite a different thing when this thug promotes himself
to the level of international terrorist and attempts to disrupt the most
revered games in the universe in his once adopted country, Australia."
The Sunday Post, edited by an indigenous Fijian, accused Speight of
losing the plot as well as his course in his crusade.
"It is also astonishing that this so-called champion and crusader of
indigenous rights is threatening to do something that may deny other
indigenous Fijians to fulfil their once in a lifetime dream of
participating in this historical and prestigious sporting event.
"We must remind Speight that athletes attend the Games for honour and
not for material goods.
"George, your foolish and damaging escapade has brought a black spot on
the hitherto clean face of our beloved Fiji. Please do not smear it any
more with your racial, religious and sectarian prejudices."
In a front page report, the Sunday Post reported that the French and
British governments had announced they would impose new sanctions
against Fiji.
In a stern warning to the Fijian-dominated regime, the two countries
said they would continue to follow developments in Fiji and may increase
more sanctions if the situation worsens.
Earlier, Britain recalled its high commissioner from Fiji for
consultations.
Fiji was partially suspended from the Commonwealth which will meet again
in early September to review the Fiji crisis. The Commonwealth wants an
early return to democracy.
The French defence pact, which comprises joint exercises and economic
exclusive zone maritime surveillance missions from New Caledonia, has
been suspended.
New French cooperation projects with Fiji have also been suspended.
In a statement issued from the French Embassy in Suva, Paris condemned
the illegal takeover of government.
"From the beginning, France condemned the taking of hostages and the
overthrow of the elected government of the People's Coalition," the
statement said.
The French government appealed for a quick return of the 1997
constitution and democratic order which requires equal rights for
indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians.
Commenting about the new interim President and government (which has not
yet been sworn in), the statement said: "We regret that the new line-up
does not seem to reflect the reality of the Fijian nation."
The Sunday Times reported that Speight wanted caretaker Prime Minister
Laisenia Qarase to stand aside.
"The problem with Qarase's approach is [that] he is trying to pacify
people outside to the point where they are dictating who should be in
the line-up," Speight told the Sunday Times.
"That is absolutely not acceptable."
Meanwhile, deposed elected prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry said the
best solution to solve the country's crisis would be a United Nations
supervised referendum, according to the Sunday Times.
Chaudhry also did not rule out the possibility of a government of
national unity but his elected government would need to be dissolved
within the framework of the 1997 constitution.
"That is our position but we have not been consulted by those who hold
the guns," he said.
Chaudhry said the referendum would give the people a chance to vote on
whether they do want his government back or not.
He added this should be done as "nobody is talking about getting back
to
democratic rule".
+++niuswire
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