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Fiji army chief ultimatum deepens the crisis

P. S. Suryanarayana

Though Premier Qarase yields ground on many issues

SINGAPORE: The gathering crisis in the South Pacific state of Fiji, caused by the persistent threat of a coup, intensified on Thursday, even after Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase yielded ground to Military Forces Commander Voreqe Bainimarama on many issues.

Mr. Qarase briefed the nation on the crisis-related talks he held with Commodore Bainimarama with New Zealand's help on Wednesday. Mr. Qarase said in the televised address he had "not asked for any kind of military intervention" by any member-state of the Pacific Forum to stave off a possible coup attempt by Cmdr Bainimarama. Mr. Qarase, who heads the Forum, said "it rejects the use of force and extra-constitutional action." Later, the military commander told reporters in Suva, Fiji's capital, that he had given the Prime Minister a deadline to respond to the military's demands. The timing of this comment raised the simmering tensions to a new high.

At the heart of the dispute between the two leaders is the move by the Fijian police to investigate certain activities of the Military Forces. Also in focus is Cmdr Bainimarama's demand that there should be no amnesty, in the name of national reconciliation, for any "leader" involved in the overthrow of the Fijian Government in May 2000 and in the attempted take-over of the military headquarters later that year.

Addressing these concerns, Mr. Qarase said the Government had now decided to suspend further action on the proposed legislation on national reconciliation. The constitutionality of the bill would be studied.

Talks ``a failure''

AP reports:

The Commodore declared talks with Mr. Qarase to avert a coup ``a failure'' and issued a fresh threat to replace the Government on Friday afternoon.

``We have given the Government until tomorrow afternoon to answer to our demands.

"If by tomorrow afternoon they have not answered to our demands, then we will take as given that we have been endorsed to do the cleaning up in Fiji. ''

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