A major multiracial gathering has been called today in western Fiji, where
many indigenous chiefs are
actively opposing the nationalist campaign of coup leader George Speight.
The gathering is to pray for the hostages held by Mr Speight and the policeman
killed by his supporters
last weekend.
But it will also send a political smoke signal as the Great Council of Chief
prepare to meet on Monday to
decide on the deadlock between Mr Speight and the military government.
As the final countdown begins for the settlement of the political crisis that
has paralysed the country
for 16 days, Mr Speight revealed yesterday that he had put his own name forward
to the chiefs as the
future prime minister in a proposed interim civilian government.
Mr Speight said he would abide by whatever decision was reached by the chiefs
and that he would even be
prepared to be "bottle washer" if that was their wish. He added: "I
have proven what I can do."
Today's rally, originally scheduled for Lautoka, was shifted to Veiseisei,
the home of the ranking chief
of the west, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
He lost his job as the nation's vice president when the constitution was scrapped
this week. It is
believed Ratu Iloilo has declined to attend the prayer meeting, open to indigenous
Methodists and Indian
Hindus and Muslims, for fear of inflaming the tense political stand-off.
Organisers said last night that they nevertheless expected up to 6000 people
to attend from villages all
over the west, from Sigatoka in the south to Ba in the west.
The murdered policeman is due to be buried in Ba next week. Ba is also the
original home of Mahendra
Chaudhry, Fiji's first ethnic Indian prime minister, who was taken hostage with
more than 30 other
government MPs and staffers on May 19.
It is also the territory of Dr Timoci Bavadra, who was toppled in the 1987
coup of Sitiveni Rabuka.
Some chiefs from the west, home of the major industry and tourism resorts, have
been talking of splitting
from the rest of the country if Mr Speight is successful in his aim of taking
over the country.
Mr Speight's backers are from the eastern side of the main island, Viti Levu.
Monday's meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs, the premier authority on indigenous
life, is due to
decide on rival plans put forward by Mr Speight and armed forces chief Commodore
Frank Bainimarama, who
invoked martial law on Monday in an effort to break the impasse.
Mr Speight wants his own interim government appointed to draw up a new constitution
guaranteeing
indigenous Fijians a majority of seats in Parliament.
Commodore Bainimarama wants the chiefs to endorse his military government,
which would draft a new
constitution and hold fresh elections.
Talks continued throughout yesterday between the military, a Great Council
of Chiefs delegation and Mr
Speight about final arrangements for a binding settlement.
Meanwhile, a man was shot and wounded outside the parliamentary complex last
night. Sources said the man,
believed to be a Speight supporter, was wounded in the leg.
-with AGENCIES
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/news/20000603/A34811-2000Jun2.html
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