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SUVA: Fiji's Daily Post today appealed to the rebels to end mob
violence, describing acts taken by coup leader George Speight's
supporters as barbaric and out of control.
While the nation awaited with uncertainty for the promised signing of
the Muanikau Accord this morning and freedom for the 31 hostages held
for five weeks, the newspaper launched another strong condemnation of
the rebels.
The rebel private army, which has featured strongly on local television
newscasts in the last few days, was also bitterly criticised.
The paper also challenged the role of a group of three chiefs in the
negotiated accord, claiming it had no mandate.
"The violence emanating from within the parliamentary complex at Veiuto
must stop," said the Daily Post.
"In the past 24 hours two citizens of Fiji - a taxi driver and a senior
civil servant - were assaulted by civilian coup leader George Speight's
private army.
"Other people have also been subjected to assault, like the policeman,
who is still recovering from injuries sustained after he was brutally
attacked two weeks ago.
"The barbaric acts being displayed by Speight's crew is not only
unbelievable but is also out of control.
"The mob seem to believe they have the licence to do anything that
pleases them. they even believe they have the licence to kill. We can
only appeal to Mr Speight and his "so-called" advisers to brief their
supporters to exercise caution and calm," said the newspaper.
"There is no need for such violence. It only makes matters worse. It
creates more ill-feelings and will not contribute towards a peaceful
solution to the current political impasse. If anything, such actions by
those camping in Parliament, under the pretext of upholding indigenous
rights, have only been successful in inciting hatred.
"Meanwhile, it is interesting to see that negotiations between the
military council and the hostage takers has taken a completely different
twist.
"A third party has been included in the talks - that is, a group led by
Ratu Epeli Kanaimawi.
"We have been led to believe that Ratu Epeli's team is in there as
representatives of the Great Council of Chiefs. This newspaper has no
mandate to speak for the august body. However, there seems to be some
misunderstanding.
"The public has been led to believe that the GCC is not involved in the
current impasse. We understood that council's mediating role lapsed when
Mr Speight rejected the 10-point resolution appoved by the GCC.
"It was partly because of that stand the military asked the President
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to stand aside and martial law be declared.
The military council is on record stating the GCC will only be convened
after the country has achieved some semblance of normalcy. As it is we
are still far from that.
"The question is, what is Ratu Epeli and his colleagues Adi Litia
Cakobau and Ratu Epenisa Cakobau doing at the talks? What role are they
playing? Whose mandate are they championing? Is it that of the GCC? We
have been realiably informed that it is not.
"The other question is what role is the Tui Vuda Ratu Josefa Iloilo
playing in all these negotiations? Since the abrogation of the
constitution the office of the President, including that of the
Vice-President, no longer exists. Is the Tui Vuda mediating in his
personal capacity or is there another agenda?
"This newspaper appreciates the resolve of the players concerned in
trying to end the impasse, but there are many questions that remain
unanswered. We can only hope the players involved do not lose sight of
the agenda of the common people. That is to secure the release of the
hostages and to ensure we return to normalcy as soon as possible."
+++niuswire
Subject: [pasifik_nius] 2821 FIJI: 'End mob violence' plea to rebels
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 13:26:53 +1300
From: Journ12 <robie_d@usp.ac.fj>
Organization: Journalism, University of the South Pacific
To: Pasifik Nius <pasifik_nius@lists.c2o.org>
Title -- 2821 FIJI: 'End mob violence' plea to rebels
Date -- 24 June 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- USP Journalism, 24/6/00
Copyright -- USP Journalism
Status -- Unabridged
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