22 MAY 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara has
called on the nation of Fiji to rally together and support his
government.
Ratu Sir Kamisese, speaking to the media in Suva this afternoon, said
he had asked all arms of government, civilians and members of both the
local and international communities, to support his government and
their intention to bring an end to the four-day old siege of the
Mahendra Chaudhry Labour Coalition government.
Ratu Sir Kamisese said he was uncertain about the future of the
Chaudhry government if they were released from their captors - a
militant group of young men who claim to represent indigenous Fijian
rights and who have held the country at ransom for the past weekend.
Fiji has been plunged into economic and political chaos following the
takeover of the Chaudhry government on Friday morning at the height of
an indigenous march through the main street of the capital, Suva.
There has been little to no progress in the negotiations between the
militant group and the President's office following a disagreement
between the two over the holding of hostages which comprise about 34
parliamentarians, among them the Prime Minister Chaudhry and members
of his cabinet.
The President seemed unperturbed about reports that some provincial
chiefs have publicly come out in support of the militants but he
expressed what might be the only chance Fiji has of coming out of this
anarchy.
He said: "If I don't, I won't be sitting here tomorrow, or the next
day".
The President made no bones about his plans to step down if the
solution he desired was not agreed on.
He said he could not guarantee that he could restore Chaudhry and his
government given the intensity and the violent backlash of the
activities of indigenous rights supporters in the past few days.
The President said he could not give an assurance that they (the
Chaudhry government) would be able to resume leadership. He said he
would have to talk to them and say: "You've seen what has happened -
what is your position on this." He added dialogue would be the key.
He seemed firmly focused on his bid to muster up the numbers to
support his government at the special meeting of the indigenous Fijian
chiefs to be held in the capital tomorrow, Tuesday May 23.
At the same time the militant group have stated their confidence in
attracting majority support from the meeting. The group's leader,
George Speight, a Fiji-born Australian citizen who has sworn in a
line-up of supporters, some of whom belong to the sitting government,
has adamantly held on to his belief that the nation will swing its
support behind him.
Speight, a former Australian businessman who recently featured heavily
in the Fiji media recently over a tussle with the government
concerning the awarding of a mahogany harvesting deal which seemed to
have fuelled his anger against the Chaudhry government.
Speight, whose father was a politician in the Rabuka government, says
he is prepared to die with his comrades if the situation arises....PNS
(ENDS)
PACNEWS Second Edition 22 May 2000 Page 1 (c) Copyright PIBA 2000
Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association, Private Mail Bag, GPO, Suva,
Fiji Islands Phone (679) 315 732, Fax (679) 315 379
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