SUVA, Fiji Islands (May 26, 2000 - USP Journalism Programme/Pasifik Nius/Niuswire)
Support by indigenous Fijian towards the
chiefs in Fiji appeared slim today after the rejection of the proposals to resolve
the week-old hostage crisis from the Great Council of Chiefs by self-proclaimed
Prime Minister George Speight and his rebel gunmen.
Acting ģinformation ministerī Simione Kaitani
in the rebel administration told Pacific Journalism Online the chiefs had failed
to consult their people and whatever they resolved was their own views ? not
of the grassroots people.
"This meeting was an emergency meeting
of the chiefs and whatever their resolutions, are not of the grassroots Fijians
whom they are supposed to represent," he said.
"They are speaking for themselves only
and nobody else."
"So, first, they should have consulted their own people before attending this meeting because right now, they are seen as contradicting the wishes of the grassroots people."
The council's proposals that all hostages
be released, Speight and his rebel group be given an amnesty, the 1997 constitution
be amended, and the call for a government headed by the President, Ratu Sir
Kamisese Mara, have been internationally condemned.
Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer,
said on Radio Fiji today that any outcome from the hostage crises that gave
victory to Speight and his gunmen was unacceptable and would lead to sanctions
against Fiji.
The Fiji Trades Union Congress said the democratic elected government must be restored and the chiefs' offer was conceding to terrorism and thuggery.
Elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
and his government have been held hostage since the gunmen stormed Parliament
last Friday.
Great Council of Chiefs chairman Sitiveni
Rabuka said last night that the council was "blackmailed" into agreeing
with most of the demands by Speight.
At the start of the meeting on Tuesday, chiefs
were told of the danger to the lives of those held captive.
Great Council of Chiefs member and Tui Nadrau,
Ratu Lemeki Naboiboita Natadra, told Pacific Journalism Online his contribution
to the council meeting was of his own and not his people.
"I did not have time to meet my people
and whatever I am saying is my personal opinion and I think that this will cause
some division among the chiefs and the people, grassroots Fijian people,"
he said.
A villager, Lepani Rogorogonivanua from Kaba in Tailevu, said: "The villagers in Tailevu want George Speight to lead the country and not Ratu Mara."
He said the chiefs should not act on the
premises that they have the mandate of the grassroots people.
"Look at the people here in this Parliament;
if they support the chiefs, they would not be here. But now the opposite,"
he said.
In a two-page letter to George Speight, the
Great Council of Chiefs proposed ten resolutions which were rejected outright.
The rebels will meet this morning to draft
a counter-proposal.
Proposals floated last night by a spokesman for
the Speight group, Jo Nata, included: abrogation of the 1997 constitution, installation
of the Speight administration and replacement of the president.
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