30 MAY 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's political crisis took another new turn
last night as the army stepped in and took over the reins of power here
following the resignation of Fiji President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
The Fiji Military Forces has effectively taken over the running of the
government as of today but there has been little information available on
how it would function.
Fiji is reliving a scenario out of the pages of history. In 1987 when then
military officer Sitiveni Rabuka took over the Indian-dominated government
of Dr. Timoci Bavadra, the army was effectively in power for a few months
before it was handed over to civilians.
A press statement from the Ministry of Information a day before the
announcement hinted at a military solution. It outlined rules of engagement
of the military in an emergency situation.
As the military geared up to deal with any further outbreaks of violence in
the capital, Suva, a national radio reported this morning that three key
supporters of the armed civilians who are holding Fiji's leader Mahendra
Chaudhry and members of his government as hostages, were roughed up at a
checkpoint near the Parliament House in Veiuto.
The army reportedly confiscated their vehicles and arms that were found in
one of the vehicles. The three pro-indigenous supporters are a journalist
who has been acting as a media adviser to self-styled coup leader, George
Speight, an independent member of parliament and a landowner in the central
province. The MP was hospitalised while the media adviser was detained by
police.
Earlier, last night the army had sent four army officers to the Parliament
complex to announce the military action to Speight and his group who have
been holed up there since they took over Chaudhry's government on Friday May
19 at gunpoint while they sat in session in parliament.
As this bulletin was being prepared there was still no official word from
the military headquarters at Nabua's Queen Elizabeth Barracks about further
developments or any details about what action would be taken in relation to
the governing of the nation...PNS (ENDS)
30 MAY 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) -- In his first reaction to the military
take-over in Fiji, self-styled leader George Speight speaking through one of
his advisers, said the hostages will be released shortly.
The media advisor, journalist Jo Nata told a local radio station that
members of the coalition government, including former Prime Minister,
Mahendra Chaudhry would be released soon. He did not give an exact time when
the hostages, who have been held at gun-point since May 19, would be
released.
"We will be meeting with them on the make-up of a new government."
Nata said
earlier this morning. Former army officer, Major Josefa Savua, who led a
group of soldiers to support the rebel group in parliament said senior army
officer were supposed to meet with Speight and his self-appointed ministers
at 8am today.
Meanwhile, Joe Brown, the private secretary of the President, Ratu Sir
Kamisese Mara, confirmed that senior army officers had approached the
President in a traditional manner and asked him to step aside yesterday
afternoon. "Commodore (Frank) Bainimarama and senior army officers
approached the President and presented in a traditional manner a whale's
tooth and asked that His Excellency step aside to allow them to establish
martial law and to resolve the current crisis." Brown said...PNS (ENDS)
PACNEWS Special Edition 30 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
E-mail pacnews@pacnews.org Web Site www.pacnews.org
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