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SUVA: Fiji's military regime says it will include some people nominated
by rebel leader George Speight in a civilian interim government,
according to media reports.
The Sunday Post said today the military had agreed in part to a list of
20 names submitted by Speight while the Sunday Sun said some of the
Speight-nominated people would be included in the government.
"We received a list from Mr Speight's group and we find some of the
names agreeable to us and we would include them in the list recommended
to the Great Council of Chiefs," military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel
Filipo Tarakinikini said in a media briefing.
Speight's name was not on the list but Tarakinikini would not elaborate
on the names received, the Sunday Post said.
Tarakinikini was quoted as saying that the names agreed to were people
with "no political affiliation and with proper standing in society".
Rebel media spokesman Jo Nata also would not reveal the names, but
confirmed there were 20 on the list.
"I understand there are some common names on the list that are
acceptable to both parties. These people have been picked from outside
our group," Nata said.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Sun warned in a front-page report that several
expatriate judges from Australia and New Zealand were considering mass
resignation after three had already resigned.
The military was reported as expressing worry that the resignations
could break down the judicial and legal services.
But the Chief Justice, Sir Timoci Tuivaga, had given assurances that
this would not happen.
Two judges appointed to the Supreme Court and one from the High Court
had handed in their resignations, Sir Timoci confirmed, according to the
Sunday Sun.
The latest judge to resign was said to be Sir Gerard Brennan, a former
Chief Justice of Australia.
The military reportedly said that the uncertainty over the judges and
the political crisis had "forced" the extension of Sir Timoci's
retirement age from 70 to 75 and his involvement in drafting several of
the regime's decrees.
The Sunday Post reported that 26 expatriate lecturers at the regional
University of the South Pacific had resigned in the aftermath of the
illegal takeover of government.
+++niuswire
Title -- 2803 FIJI: Military regime agrees to some Speight nominees
Date -- 18 June 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- USP Journalism Programme, 18/6/00
Copyright -- USP Journalism
Status -- Unabridged
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last revision June 18, 2000