SUVA, Fiji Islands (June 1, 2000 Radio Australia)---A major rally to protest
at Fiji's coup is being organized for tomorrow on the
western side of the main island of Viti Levu.
Fiji Trade Union Congress leader Felix Anthony said the rally is expected to
attract a large number of people, angry at the overthrow
of the government.
Mr. Anthony said the military chief, Commodore Bainimarama, has assured him
that unlike the 1987 coup, no violence will be
targeted at the trade union movement.
“The Commodore assured us that as far as he was concerned the trade unions
and their rights are intact and that there's no
intention on his part to try and do anything or restrict the role of trade unions
or the rights of workers.”
SUVA, Fiji Islands (June 1, 2000 Radio Australia)---Fiji's rebel leader, George
Speight, is demanding to head the civilian
government to be installed by the country's military regime.
Radio Australia correspondent Graeme Dobell reports from Suva that negotiations
between the Fiji military and Mr. Speight's group
stretched into the early hours of this morning.
“Objections from Mr. Speight have forced the military regime to scrap
its plan to immediately appoint a civilian cabinet, headed by a
former army chief, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, a son-in-law of the deposed President,
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
“The head of the interim military government, Commodore Frank Bainimarama,
says instead he'll rule through a military council.
“But, Mr. Speight's negotiating team has stalled on accepting seats on
the military council.It says the military should recognize the
regime Mr. Speight established when he stormed Parliament a fortnight ago and
allow Mr. Speight to head the government.
“The demand is that the military handover to Mr. Speight the civilian
government, because it has the mandate of the Fijian people.
“Graeme Dobell, Radio Australia, Suva.”
OTTAWA, Canada (June 1, 2000 Radio Australia)---Canada plans to call next week
for the suspension of Fiji from the
Commonwealth.
Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy told Parliament that unless there is substantial
improvement, Canada would propose the
suspension of Fiji at a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.
He said Ottawa had already issued a very strong condemnation of the coup in
Fiji.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 1, 2000 Radio Australia)---The U.S. State Department
has announced that it is premature to consider
sanctions against Fiji until the parliamentary hostages are released.
Radio Australia Washington correspondent Michael Carey reports.
“While the U.S. continues to condemn the hostage taking in Suva, it says
the outcome of the crisis is too unclear to describe at this
stage as a coup.Nor is the State Department ready to explicitly endorse sanctions
against the country if multi-ethnic democracy isn't
preserved.
“Department spokesman, Phillip Reeker: ‘I don't want to go one way
or the other; it's premature.What I want to do is to say that we
need to see a release of the hostages and a return to order and then we'll take
it the next steps -- once we see how the situation
evolves and what develops.’
“However, Mr. Reeker says Fiji's leaders should be aware that the country's
international standing is at stake.‘We want to see
democracy restored there; we want it to be multi-ethnic democracy and we see
that the 1997 constitution embodies the standards,
the international human rights standards which we very much support.’
“Michael Carey, Radio Australia, Washington, D.C.”
SUVA, Fiji Islands (June 1, 2000 Radio Australia)---Negotiations between Fiji's
military regime and rebel leader George Speight
have continued, but no progress has been reported so far.
The two sides are said to remain at loggerheads over the makeup of the new
interim government.
The military regime has now deferred the creation of a new ministry -- George
Speight saying the deferral is a concession to his
demands.
From Suva, Radio Australia correspondent Graeme Dobell reports:
"The military regime says it will defer the naming and swearing of an
interim government until all hostages are released from
Parliament and all weapons are handed over.
"The step back by the military President, Frank Bainimarama, means a military
council will continue to run Fiji under the martial law
decree announced on Monday.
"The deferral means Ratu Epeli Nailatikau will not be sworn in as Prime
Minister.
"The rebel leader is claiming this as a victory for his views on future
leadership.
"Mr. Speight objects to Ratu Epeli because he's the son in law of the
deposed President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
"Graeme Dobell, Radio Australia, Suva."
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