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Fiji coup leader reinstates President

P. S. Suryanarayana

Reinstated President Ratu Josefa Iloilo

SINGAPORE: Fiji's military ruler Commodore Frank Bainimarama on Thursday reinstated Ratu Josefa Iloilo as the President. Cmdr. Bainimarama did not indicate whether he was relinquishing power or whether this was the first step towards restoration of democracy.

Earlier in the day, the military "government" said "there will be total immunity for the military force before the executive authority of the country is returned to Ratu Josefa Iloilo this month."

Cmdr. Bainimarama defended the coup that he had staged on December 5, the fourth in Fiji in the past two decades. He also hailed Mr. Iloilo for being "tremendously supportive of our [military's] actions" during and after the coup. He "continues to support us."

He appealed to the deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, and the international community to "support" the reinstatement.

The military "government" said in a statement "Cmdr. Bainimarama denies claims that rich [ethnic] Indian businessmen were bankrolling the military takeover." The denial was in response to the allegations that stemmed from the perception that some of his statements, during the takeover, were particularly cognisant of the interests of Fiji's large ethnic Indian minority.

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