People of Fiji. This morning at 10.35 a group of seven people armed with guns
walked into Parliament and took the Government members hostage.
I speak on behalf of the People's Coalition Government and am acting as its
leader under present circumstances.
I take this opportunity to call upon the Commander of Fiji Military Forces
and the Commissioner of Police to respect the Constitution to which they have
given their oaths. I call upon the Executive arms of the Government to respect
their Constitutional authority. I am calling for calm and for respect for law
and order. I am calling upon the police and military to take emergency measures
to restore law and order. The Constitutional Authorities of the Government and
the President are intact albeit under great pressure.
I am talking to members of the Senate and those of the Council of Chiefs to
assist in restoring law and order under these trying circumstances. I am also
in touch with the international community and have informed them of the severity
of the actions taken this morning. They join me in condemning
the actions of this morning.
As Government spokesperson, I am directing the Commander of the Fiji Military
Forces and the Commissioner of Police to take all measures necessary to restore
Constitutional authority, including that of the President of the Fiji Islands.
To those armed men who hold the Prime Minister and members of Government hostage,
this is a plea to reconsider their undemocratic action which will
severely harm all the people of this beloved country.
I will be making further announcements later in the day following consultations
with the Office of the President, the Military Forces and Police and the Secretary
to the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (the Great Council of Chiefs). They are requested
to mediate the immediate release of Government members, the speakers, the Secretary
General to the Parliament.
Ratu Tevita Momoedonu
Acting Head of People's Coalition Government
This text may have been edited to protect the writer.
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