M A I N   N E W S

Fiji’s military toughens stance

SUVA, June 4 (AFP) — Fiji’s martial law administrator tonight toughened his stance towards coup plotters, just hours after rebel leader George Speight claimed that he had reached an agreement with the military on transfer of power from the army to the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC).

The Head of the Interim Military Government, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama seemed to rebut an earlier claim that executive authority was about to be handed from the military to the GCC.

The language in a press statement from Fiji Military Forces headquarters was almost dismissive of Mr Speight who had spent most of the day at the Queen Elizabeth Darracks in negotiations.

On may 19, Mr Speight and a small armed squad seized Parliament taking what he now says is 31 hostages, including Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

Mr Speight claimed that he had reached a draft agreement on the transfer of power from the military to the GCC which would then set up an interim government. He said it was only a question now of timing.

But Commodore Bainimarama said in a statement that the point of contention was Mr Speight wanting to have the GCC called now and to transfer executive authority to them.

The statement said Mr Speight had nothing to do with the GCC and that the military, as the government wanted to ensure peace and stability was in place “before anything else was done”.

Commodore Bainimarama said the GCC had last week convened and come up with proposals which Mr Speight had rejected out of hand.

“The GCC is a forum for our Chiefs and is not like a village council to be called at the whim of anyone,” the commodore said.

“The military therefore maintains its stance that we must secure the release of all hostages and the return of all arms and other military stores before anything else is done.”

He said there would be a three-month grace period from the release of hostages and the return of arms to the convening of the GCC.

Chaudhry in ‘good health’

SUVA, June 4 (AFP) — Fiji coup leader George Speight claimed today that his 31 hostages, including Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, were in good condition but he offered no early hope of release.

Facing the international media, he claimed that he "absolutely" trusted the new martial law authorities and denied there was any duress involved in his agreements with them.

Told that holding hostages amounted to duress he angrily replied: "Look, I could have easily shot these people, okay? Don’t forget the cause for which we acted."