Coup leader George Speight has been arrested by the Fiji Military Forces.
Speight was arrested with legal adviser Tevita Bukarau, media adviser Jo Nata,
and a bodyguard at the Laqere checkpoint outside Suva as they were leaving their
temporary headquarters at Kalabo.
Speight's arrest has been confirmed by army spokesman Lt Col Filipo Tarakinikini
a short while ago.
Earlier army personnel at Laqere and at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks were very
tense when approached by us for confirmation and told us and other journalists
to leave.
It is believed the four have been arrested because they were carrying guns
and thus are not covered by the amnesty decree negotiated as part of the Muanikau
Accord which saw the release of members of the Mahendra Chaudhry government
held hostage in the Parliament complex for 55 days.
Tarakinikini also implied that the arrests may be linked to threats made on
the life of the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, and the fact that not all arms
have been returned as agreed under the accord. Iloilo has been threatened and
sworn at in the past few days by rebel supporters because he named a government
that included very few of Speight supporters.
Tarakinikini said it was unacceptable to the military for Speight to be carrying
guns.
The army's action is the first decisive move since one rebel was killed and
a number of them injured in a shootout outside Parliament a few weeks ago.
It is certain to bring a reaction from the rebel supporters, led by Bau chief
Adi Samanunu Cakobau and Naitasiri chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata.
They had been pressuring Iloilo to name Cakobau as prime minister and include
Speight nominees in a new cabinet that was to be named tomorrow (Thursday).
But the military has been refusing to do so, prefering to go with current caretaker
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
The army and the rest of Fiji fear international sanctions would ruin Fiji
if Speight's group were in the government.
Speight's arrest leaves a big question mark over the naming of a new cabinet tomorrow and the swearing-in on Friday. A mini-Budget was also to have been handed down tomorrow.
The military has stepped up security in Nakasi, Nasinu after receiving information
that George Speight's rebel group will march there and occupy a church in Adi
Davila Ganilau Road.
The military says it boosted security after it received information that the
rebels were getting ready to move their base from Kalabu to Nasinu.
They have been occupying Kalabu Fijian School since they moved out of the Parliamentary
Complex a week ago.
The church at Adi Davila Road is located near Bhawani Dayal School.
The military has warned shopkeepers to lock up before nightfall, when the rebels
are expected to march there.
Meanwhile, more soldiers were deployed to the Laqere Bridge checkpoint at the
Kalabu Road junction following threats made by rebels.
According to the military, the rebels said they will take over the checkpoint if the soldiers didn't stop checking all vehicles coming out of Kalabu Road.
Rebel leader George Speight is likey to lose his Queensland [Australia] house
if he fails to pay outstanding rates to the local municipality.
Logan Town's mayor told a newspaper that the council has the power to sieze
and sell Speight's home if the rebel leader fails to make payments over a three-year
period.
Speight owes over $1300 to the Logan Town Council.
Note from LGD Editor: It has been reported that the Australian government
has been looking into ways to seize the assets of George Speight and his rebel
supporters.
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last revision July 26, 2000