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SUVA: A rebel lawyer claims the fate of the hostages in Fiji will be
"beyond the control of those rebels in power" if their demands are
not
met, the Fiji Sun reported today.
The veiled threat was made by Ratu Tevita Bukarau, a legal
representative and negotiator for rebel leader George Speight's group
when addressing a delegation of western chiefs who met at the Fijian
Resort yesterday.
But claims about other named contenders as the armed force's preferred
President were rejected as "outright lies" by military commander,
Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
A 24-hour deadline set by the military to accept to the Muanikau Accord
agreed to on Friday expired yesterday and Bainimarama will now press
ahead with forming its own interim government leading to an election in
two years.
"We had asked them not to do that [ultimatum] because we won't be in
control of the problems that will arise as a result of them setting up
their own government," he told chiefs at the meeting.
The talks were chaired by Ratu Osea Gavidi, a western chief and member
of the Great Council of Chiefs' subcommittee that was liaising with
Speight's group, the Fiji Sun reported.
Ratu Osea earlier told the chiefs that there were other contenders for
the position of President proposed by the military but he was not at
liberty to say who they were.
However, Ratu Tevita revealed two of the names - GCC chairman Sitiveni
Rabuka and Ratu Jone Madraiwiwi, a High Court judge and chief.
It is understood the other two names wewre that of the Tui Vuda, Ratu
Josefa Iloilo, and Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, whose position as President
had not been clarified according to the Speight group.
"Those are downright lies and I'm not going to be drawn into their
politics," Commodore Bainimarama told the Fiji Sun.
The Daily Post reported today that Ratu Josefa - the demanded choice of
the Speight group - had declined to be considered for President.
The newspaper quoted military spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Filipo
Tarakinikini as saying: "Ratu Iloilo doesn't want his name mentioned as
a candidate."
The Post also reported under a front page banner headline that trade
bans against the Fiji Islands had been called off.
This came after the Fiji Trades Union Congress agreed to work with the
military, the churches, the private sector and non-government
organisations to find a constitutional resolution for the political
impasse.
Instead of requesting trade bans by overseas countries, the FTUC had
agreed that the crisis could be solved within the framework of the 1997
constitution, the paper said.
"We fully support attempts made by the army to resolve the present
crisis and we reiterate that all attempts should be made within the
framework of the 1997 constitution," FTUC general secretary Felix
Anthony said.
The broad coalition of groups yesterday made a presentation to Commodore
Bainimarama pledging support and calling for urgent steps to find a
solution.
+++niuswire
Title -- 2839 FIJI: Rebel lawyer says hostages' safety at risk
Date -- 29 June 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- USP Journalism, 29/6/00
Copyright -- USP Journalism
Status -- Unabridged
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