back to new archives for 18-21 June 2000
Australian Broadcasting Co.
Sun, 18 Jun 2000 9:50 AEST
Military mulls over Speight's suggestions

Fiji's martial law authorities have offered to include members of coup leader
George Speight's group in a team to draft a new constitution.

The military is considering Mr Speight's nominees for a new civilian
government.

Mr Speight has presented two lists to military leaders proposing
candidates for an interim government and nominees for a council to rewrite
the constitution.

The military has consistently ruled out any role for Mr Speight, or his group
in the civilian administration it will establish once he releases his hostages.

However, they have accepted some of his nominees for government
who are not linked to any political party and are from outside the Speight
group.

The military regime has also agreed to include the rebels in a separate
constitutional review council.

Military spokesman Filipo Tarakinikini says his leaders sympathise with
some of Mr Speight's aims and agree the aspirations of indigenous Fijians
must be considered first.

John Scott of the Red Cross says his organization has been able to visit
the captives almost every day.

"They're still receiving medication, and we were able to take in a heart
specialist today who inspected Mr Chaudhry and the others, because
three of the hostages have had bypass operations," he said.

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