21 MAY 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's largest church which also represents majority
of indigenous Fijians in the country, the Methodist Church, says it will not
interfere with the armed group which his holding Prime Minister Chaudhry and
his cabinet hostage at the parliamentary complex in the capital Suva.
President of the Church and Chairman of the Fiji Council of Churches, Reverend
Tomasi Kanailagi when asked by Radio Fiji about its position on the armed group,
said: "I don't want to interfere. They (armed group) are trying to discuss
the stand they would like to take and the direction they want to move into.
I don't think the
church should interfere with them".
Reverend Kanailagi was interviewed as he arrived at the parliamentary complex
for the first time since the crisis began on Friday. He said he had come to
visit members
of the Methodist Church who were being held captive at the parliamentary complex.
"As the chief shepherd of the Methodist Church and Chairman of the Fiji
Council of Churches I do feel that I have the responsibility to come and meet
with them, say a
prayer for them and read scriptures to them."
The Reverend was also asked to comment on the looting and mayhem seen in the
streets of Suva on Friday. He did not criticise the looters saying things got
out of hand
on the "spur of the moment".
"I was at the church office (in Suva on Friday). I saw them (looters) coming,
they broke into two of our shops in Suva. We could not say anything, we just
sat there and
waited because the spur of the moment is a different thing. If you had tried
to have interfered you would have only harmed yourself."
"So we don't want to say anything in regards to the looters because it
was done in the spur of the moment. I think because of the march, the inspiration
from the signing,
inspired them to do what they did."
However he did appealed to everyone not to participate in further looting. "I
would only ask the people that looting is breaking the law. To be a Christian
is to be a
law-abiding citizen. I think there are people who want to take things without
paying everywhere, you cannot stop them. In every country you have people like
that."...PNS (ENDS)
21 MAY 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - Schools around Fiji will be closed tomorrow (Monday,
22 May) because of the political crisis in the country.
Spokesman for the Education Ministry, Ro Alipate Mataitini said although the
decision has not been made by the ministry to keep schools closed, "it
would be prudent
for students not to come to school because public buses will not be operating".
"I think the sensible thing to say right now is that schools won't be operating
tomorrow until further notice because of the bus operators decision not to commit
themselves to operate tomorrow," he said.
Asked when the Ministry might made a definite decision, he said: "Hopefully
tomorrow (May 22) something should be definite with the education officials
going back to
work."
Meanwhile, the University of the South has also announced that classes and exams
will not be held on Monday, 22 May because of the state of emergency in the
country.
The USP Registrar's office said classes and exams will resume on Tuesday, 22
May 2000 if the situation improves...PNS (ENDS)
21 MAY 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - The leader of the armed group holding Fiji's Prime
Minister, his cabinet ministers and other MPs hostage since Friday morning said
today (Sunday, May 21) would be a rest day, and that no negotiations will take
place on the release of the hostages.
Local radio station, FM96 reported earlier today that self-styled leader George
Speight had confirmed that no negotiations would take place with Chairman of
the Great
Council of Chiefs, former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka who has been mediating
between Speight and the President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to try and resolve
the
hostage crisis.
The radio report said Speight would make a decision on the negotiations on Monday
morning.
Rabuka came to the parliamentary complex earlier today but left a few minutes
later. He was expected to meet with the President later today.
Meanwhile, last night the leader of the armed men inside Parliament, George
Speight strolled out of parliamentary gates for the first time since taking
Parliament, the
Prime Minister, his cabinet ministers and other MPs hostage just after 10:30am
on Friday. He came out to answer questions from local and foreign journalists
who had
gathered outside.
The Editor of Radio Fiji, Vasiti Waqa asked him whether he had changed his position
on the hostage situation by coming out in public. Earlier in the night all lights
had
been switched off at the parliamentary complex and security had been stepped
up by the armed men because of reports that the army was planning to raid the
premises.
"Nothing has changed dramatically. I represent the people. I should fear
coming out into the public arena," Speight said when he came out of the
gates.
"Why should I fear - I mean I acted on behalf of our people. There was
a possibility from our intelligence of a breach of security that we have at
the parliamentary
complex. We were unsure whether this breach was going to be of local origin
or an overseas origin. However, on matters of this kind, we don't take any chances."
"Also those rumours were fuelled by (Adi Kuini) Speed who held the position
of Deputy Prime Minister in the Chaudhry Government that I deposed. Speaking
from
Sydney, Australia she condemned the actions of the coup."
"She indicated that she was going to ask Australian and New Zealand authorities
to take actions designed at restoring the status quo prior to my coming on the
scene to
Friday."....PNS (ENDS)
PACNEWS Second Edition 21 May 2000 Page 2 (c) Copyright PIBA 2000
Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association, Private Mail Bag, GPO, Suva, Fiji
Islands Phone (679) 315 732, Fax (679) 315 379
E-mail pacnews@pacnews.org Web Site www.pacnews.org
This text may have been edited to protect the writer.
This site is best viewed using Netscape 4.0 or higher.
Any problems or kind suggestions, please email: webmaster@lookinglassdesign.com
last revision 5/22/00