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Coup leaders in Fiji release some captive lawmakers |
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May 22, 2000
SUVA, MAY 21 (AP) - Rebels holding Fiji's elected prime minister and other government members hostage threatened Sunday to execute them unless their demands are met, the president said.
But the rebel leader angrily dismissed the claim as "crazy." Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara said rebel leader George Speight sought a meeting with him Sunday to discuss the uprising at the center of Fiji's government crisis.
Mara refused. "I will not have any dialogue with those who are imprisoning the parliamentarians and bear arms in the parliament complex unless they are freed," Mara said. "I learned from him afterwards ... that what he was going to tell me was that if I don't follow what he says, he will start executing hostages one by one."
At a new conference in parliament Speight denied such a plan. "To suggest that we would embark on such an operation as a solution is just irresponsible and crazy," he said. "I am giving the world my word ... I am guaranteeing their safety."
Mara said Speight was demanding he step down and allow the rebel group to run the South Pacific country.
Later Sunday, shots were fired outside parliament where the hostages were being held. Witnesses said Speight invited journalists into parliament but police loyal to Mara and the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry tried to stop the reporters from entering.
Speight supporters then fired warning shots in the direction of a police checkpoint and escorted a group of journalists into parliament. Nobody was reported injured and the journalists were escorted out of parliament after Speight held a news conference.
Mara said news crews would no longer be allowed within one kilometer (0.6 miles) of parliament.
Earlier Sunday, two influential ethnic Fijian groups pledged their support for Speight. Ratu Tevita Bolobolo, leader of the Taukei movement of ethnic Fijians, read out a statement also signed by the main opposition party, known as SVT.
"We do not and we will never accept the reinstatement of the Chaudhry government," Bolobolo said.
"We hereby state that we fully support the abolition of the 1997 constitution and warn Ratu Mara that any intervention by force will lead to all out civil war.
"We the Taukei are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice so as to return this country to the Taukei."
The statement was the first major sign of support for rebel leader and self-appointed new prime minister Speight who launched an armed coup Friday, saying he represented all ethnic Fijians.
The statement was sent to Ratu Mara along with demands for changes to the constitution so only an indigenous Fijian can hold the offices of prime minister and president and for a reversion of all freehold land to native ownership.
Combined, the Taukei movement and SVP party command strong support among ethnic Fijians who make up 51 percent of the national population of 813,000. Taukei means "owner of the land."
Chaudhry is Fiji's first prime minister of Indian extraction and leads an ethnic Indian-dominated administration. One ethnic Fijian member of the elected government claimed indigenous people actually supported Chaudhry and would not accept Speight's rule.
"We will not compromise with these illegal people," Labor Minister Ratu Tevita Momoedonu told Australian television's Nine Network.
"We are treating these people as a bunch of thugs and we will not compromise with them in any way." Earlier Sunday, the rebels released about 30 hostages, but not Chaudhry, who collapsed overnight apparently from stress. A Red Cross doctor who later visited Chaudhry said he was healthy.
Speight released nine members of Chaudhry's Cabinet and some 20 parliamentary staff.
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