Fiji's hostage siege has opened divisions in the indigenous Fijian
community.
The chiefs of the western division of the main island say they will create
their own government to show opposition to the overthrow of the
democratic government and Constitution.
The civil and military coups in Suva and the east of Fiji's main island have
worsened long-standing divisions with the western provinces.
To protest the overthrow of the democratic government, western chiefs
say they will set up their own rule, breaking free from Suva and the eastern
half of the main island.
The United States ambassador to Fiji, Osmond Sit (sic), has had talks with
the
western chiefs.
"There's a grave division in the council of chiefs," he said.
"As a matter of fact on Tuesday the western chiefs are holding their own
meeting on the western side of this island and they are going to determine
their own course of action.
"That's what I have been told," Mr Sit said.
The rebel leader occupying parliament, George Speight says he favours
self-determination and a new government in the western half is no different
to Australia's states.
Mr Speight has given the military regime a 10-point list of demands.
The military says it is prepared to discuss the demands to restart the
stalled negotiations on the hostages.
Mr Speight has scrapped his plan to release the hostages today because
of differences with the military.
Mr Speight is demanding that the head of the military government, Frank
Bainimarama, transfer his executive authority to the great council of chiefs.
He says the chiefs should appoint a president.
The rebel leader says his group must have ministers in a new civilian
government.
Mr Speight says the amnesty on offer must extend beyond him and six
of his men to cover all of his supporters.
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonal Tarakinikini says Mr Speight is
changing the terms of the previous agreement for release of the 30
hostages.
"We are still the government of the day; we decide the terms of the
agreement and we have not reneged on any agreement," he said.
Note from LGD: The correct name of the US Ambassador is Osmond Siddique.
Indigenous chiefs of western Fiji, home to captive ethnic Indian prime
minister Mahendra Chaudhry, are reported to be backing a proposal to
form a breakaway government for their resource-rich district.
The suggestion of a possible split among Fiji's traditional leaders came as
a peace deal between the military rulers and rebel gunmen holding the
elected government hostage in parliament collapsed.
Moves toward an independent western Fiji were floated following a prayer
meeting in western Fiji yesterday- the only way people could gather
without running foul of martial law.
David Momoedon, a government minister who was deposed in the coup,
says his region will never accept George Speight as a Fijian leader.
This Bulletin: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 3:08 AEST
Hostage deal collapses as allegations fly
Hopes for the immediate release of the hostages in Fiji have been
dashed, with allegations of bad faith made by both the military and the
rebel group holding parliament.
Military spokesman Leiutenant Colonel Tarakinikini says Fiji's Great Council
of Chiefs will not meet on Monday to choose between the army regime
and the rebel group of George Speight.
Colonel Tarakinikini says talks have stalled because Mr Speight is
changing his demands.
"They seem to have accused of reneging on our earlier agreements, which
has come as a surprise to all of us," he said.
"We are still the government of the day. We decide the terms of the
agreement and we have not reneged on any agreement," he said.
Mr Speight says the 30 hostages he has held for 16 days will continue in
detention in Fiji's parliament complex until he reaches an agreement with
the army.
But Mr Speight says he will continue negotiating with the army as fellow
Fijians, adding that Indians are the common enemy of all Fijians.
"We don't want Fijians fighting against Fijians. Our common enemy is the
Indians, to put it graphically, although not literally," Mr Speight said.
Mr Speight says he has no fear about any army attack to free the
hostages.
"Definitely not. I'm not worried about my safety at all. Some Indians
might
want to kill me, but I understand that," he said.
And as the coup continues, Fiji's largely ethnic Indian sugar farmers are
refusing to harvest this year's crop in protest.
Sugar is one of Fiji's top exports, and ethnic Indian farmers account for 95
per cent of the annual harvest.
The cane farmers, who are predominantly of Indian origin, are mostly
tenants on land owned by indigenous Fijians.
But the Fiji Cane Growers' Association says some ethnic Indian farmers
are being forced off their farms.
They estimate around 2.5 million tonnes of cane will be left standing unless
the crisis is resolved and the farmers return to the fields.
This text may have been edited to protect the writer.
This site is best viewed using Netscape 4.0 or higher.
Any problems or kind suggestions, please email: webmaster@lookinglassdesign.com
last revision June 6, 2000