SUVA, Fiji Islands (May 31, 2000 - The Fiji Times and Fiji's Daily Post/PINA Nius Online)---
Former Fiji Military Forces commander Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has been proposed
to head the military's Council of Ministers, The Fiji Times reported today.
Radio Fiji this morning said Fiji Military Forces commander Commodore Frank
Bainimarama had confirmed this.
It came a day after the Fiji Military Forces declared martial law and took
over running the country following growing lawlessness and a deadlock in efforts
to
free elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and other parliamentarians. Senior
military officers had followed traditional Fijian protocol in asking the
President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, to step aside and allow them to declare martial
law.
Ratu Epeli, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Ratu Edward Cakobau, was Fiji
Military Forces commander when Sitiveni Rabuka toppled the Labour
coalition government in 1987. He is the husband of former Tourism Minister Adi
Koila, who is among hostages in the parliamentary complex. He was Fiji's
longtime ambassador in London, permanent secretary for foreign affairs and roving
ambassador to the Pacific Islands states.
The Fiji Times said the first meeting between attempted coup leader George
Speight's negotiating group and the Fiji Military Forces yesterday was described
as "fruitful and progressive." But the military team was denied access
to the hostages. The meeting was held at the Pacific Theological College, which
is next
to the parliamentary complex held by Speight and his supporters.
Deputy Prime Minister in Mr. Speight's self-declared Taukei Civilian Government,
Ratu Timoci Silatolu, said they were satisfied with discussions. "Because
this is a completely new negotiating group, we laid out our demands (again)
and they still have to come back to us but as it was, I believe it as fruitful,"
Ratu
Timoci said.
Army delegate Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini said the groups "made
progress." Both refused to comment further.
But The Fiji Times said sources confirmed that the military delegation was
asked by Mr. Speight's team to:
* Throw out the 1997 Constitution and that Mr. Speight and his men be pardoned;
* Ensure an interim Council of Advisers be free of people involved in the Alliance,
Rabuka or Chaudhry governments;
* Appoint indigenous Fijians to the council and;
* Swear in an interim administration before hostages are released.
Other developments reported by Fiji's news media this morning included:
* The Fiji Times said the President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, and his family
had been moved to a "safe house" for security reasons, and could be
on their way
to his home village of Tubou in Lakeba, Lau, by naval vessel.
* Fiji's Daily Post reported five gunmen supporting Speight plus one of the
ministers in Speight's self-declared government were arrested and beaten up
by
soldiers as they attempted to travel around Suva. The Daily Post said Speight
supporters were threatening to terrorize the city again in revenge.
* Radio stations said the nationwide curfew is now eased to 8:00 p.m. to 5:00
a.m.
Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)
Website: http://www.pinanius.org
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