Fijian Pm In Stand-off With Army Chief

The Age

Thursday November 2, 2006

JOEL GIBSON, SUVA

FIJIAN Prime Minster Laisenia Qarase has dug in against threats by maverick military commander Frank Bainimarama and has called in traditional leaders to mediate.

At the end of a day in which troops defied police and seized seven tonnes of ammunition from the Suva docks yesterday, Mr Qarase said in a televised address: "I declare emphatically that there is no question of me resigning in response to the current situation or of my government stepping down."

Mr Qarase said that a special meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs would sit next week in the hope it could mediate between the Government and the army.

He described the council as a repository of chiefly wisdom and authority.

"In 1987 and 2000 (previous coups), it demonstrated its ability to deal with the fundamental issues of peace and stability," he said.

Mr Qarase, despite previous failures, indicated his willingness to talk to Commodore Bainimarama, who was due to return from visiting Fijian soldiers overseas. He questioned whether the commodore had become a pawn of those with political agendas, and warned that the international community was more responsive now than it was in 2000 in protecting governments.

Commodore Bainimarama's long-running campaign against the Government escalated when he set a deadline of this weekend for the Government to resign. The Government then launched a failed attempt to have him sacked.

Military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni has said that Commodore Bainimarama was expected home from the Middle East at the weekend.

Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes had agreed to release a container of ammunition to the army yesterday, provided the acting military commander reassured Fijians in a joint news conference that it would not be used against the Government. The acting commander failed to appear for the news conference and Mr Hughes could not contact him yesterday.

Soldiers in two unmarked cars removed the ammunition from a Suva wharf at 8am.

"The military removed the ammunition from the wharves in circumstances which were not in line with our agreement," Mr Hughes said. "I haven't issued an import licence and I'm not going to."

The ammunition was taken to Queen Elizabeth Barracks.

According to a senior military officer, Mr Qarase has threatened to resign if Commodore Bainimarama is not ousted.

But Commodore Bainimarama told the Fiji Sun there was only one thing left for the Government to do: "Resign gracefully."

Mr Qarase called emergency cabinet and security council meetings yesterday after his failed attempts to remove Commodore Bainimarama.

Some residents have begun stockpiling water and food.

Commodore Bainimarama told the Fiji Sun: "I'll be back to see that Qarase and his cronies step down. Now that they have failed to remove me, all that needs to be done is for the Government to resign gracefully."

Patches of turbulence in 36 years of independence

1970 Independence from Britain.

1987 Army officer Sitiveni Rabuka (left) overthrows multi-racial government led by Fiji Labour Party, later stages second coup against new administration.

1990 New constitution established favouring indigenous Fijians over ethnic Indians and other races.

1992 Rabuka becomes prime minister after elections.

1997 New constitution espousing racial equality implemented.

1999 Fiji Labour Party wins elections; Mahendra Chaudhry becomes first Indo-Fijian prime minister.

2000 Rebels fronted by George Speight (centre) take government hostage for 56 days. Military ends coup; Speight and collaborators arrested. Laisenia Qarase appointed interim prime minister.

2001 Qarase's SDL party wins elections, forms coalition government.

May 2006 Qarase wins elections.

October Military commander Frank Bainimarama (right) threatens to force Government to resign.

October 31 Qarase tries to oust Bainimarama.

November 1 Australia and US warn military against coup. -- SOURCE: AAP