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India says threat to multiethnic democracy in Fiji risks regionalsecurity |
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July 29, 2000
BANGKOK, JULY 28 (UNB/AP) - India warned Friday that the overthrow of a multiethnic elected government in Fiji had repercussions for stability and democracy in the Asia-Pacific region. Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh made the comments at a security forum in Bangkok at an Asian security form. In Fiji, a new, heavily ethnic Fijian nationalist interim government was being inducted in Suva to replace the government ousted by rebel leader George Speight in May. The deposed government was headed by Fiji's first prime minister from the ethnic Indian minority. Singh urged the international community to use the full pressure of trade and economic sanctions to "quickly reverse the damage which has occurred in Fiji." Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters in the Thai capital that though the new Cabinet has capable technocrats, no one had voted for it. "For us, the tragedy remains that the democratically elected government was overthrown," Downer said. Speight claims to represent the South Pacific island state's indigenous majority. He held the government hostage for weeks to press his demands to keep the ethnic Indian minority out of the top leadership, triggering ethnic unrest. But this week, Speight was taken into detention for allegedly threatening the life of the country's president. New Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has pledged to strengthen indigenous Fijians' grip on power. The new government does not have a single ethnic-Indian member. Downer said the proposed duration of the interim administration before elections would be held - three years - was "obviously far too long." However, the Australian minister was "delighted" that Speight and many of his immediate supporters were now in detention. "We hope Mr. Speight remains there for a long time," Downer said. The Fijian military has said it may charge Speight with treason, but a week may pass before he is charged. On Friday, Qarase said that "aggressive" foreign critics such as Australia and New Zealand should leave Fiji to solve its own problems. Australia and New Zealand are leading powers in the South Pacific. Like the United States, they are demanding the restoration of democracy in Fiji and have imposed sanctions. |