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SUVA: Fiji Islands rebels holding the 27 remaining hostages in
Parliament last night rejected the military's 24-hour ultimatum, the
Daily Post reported today.
Rebel leader George Speight's adviser Ratu Timoci Silatolu said they
would not sign the Muanikau Accord.
Instead, Speight's group will try to find an amicable solution, said
Ratu Timoci.
"The army can go ahead with its ultimatum, but it will not get them
anywhere near a solution," he said. Speight did not attend the talks
yesterday.
Ratu Timoci said they would draw up a fourth set of demands and send
them to the army today.
The military said that if the rebels failed to take up the offer it
would go ahead and name a civilian government to run the country for the
next two years, leading to a general election.
Last night the military began contacting those who will be involved in
the running of the interim administration and discussions on the final
make-up will continue today.
But military spokesperson Lietenant-Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini said
they were not getting tough with the rebels.
"The country cannot wait indefinitely for them to continue their
delaying tactics while they try to squeeze every ounce of concessions
from us," he said.
A group of indigenous Fijian youths have called for a "freedom march"
for next Saturday.
According to a spokesman for the march committee, Sakaraia Tamani, the
march would be a show of protest against the actions of Speight and his
rebels.
Tamani said the group was not happy with the political crisis which had
affected many Fijian youths who have been laid off from their jobs.
They are calling for the support of indigenous Fijian and Rotuman youths
to join the march.
"This march will be a culmination of meetings to be organised all around
Viti Levu where we hope to coordinate an assembly of about 10,000 Fijian
and Rotuman youths," Tamani said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand trade unions have discontinued economic sanctions
imposed on Fiji a week ago, reported the Fiji Times.
A special meeting of the NZ Council of Trade Unions on Monday night
agreed to ease economic pressure on the military regime after reviewing
political developments.
Council president Ross Wilson said unions noted that while the military
had reached an agreement with Speight, the pact had been dishonoured by
the rebels.
+++niuswire
Title -- 2835 FIJI: Rebels reject military ultimatum
Date -- 28 June 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- USP Journalism, 28/6/00
Copyright -- USP Journalism
Status -- Unabridged
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