'Tell It To The People' Speight Warns Council

Fiji: Speight Warns Great Council May Need To Explain

By Johnety Jerette

Rebel leader George Speight warned the Great Council of Chiefs it would need to explain to the indigenous people of Fiji - not him - if its decision goes against his illegal takeover of Parliament.

"The council meeting is not a chance for me to succeed. I have to have you understand that this is not about me," he said.

"I am just used as an instrument. "This is about the people you see around me. It is not a major consequence for me if I succeed or not, but it is a major consequence to me that what they want will have to take place," said the rebel leader. "If I have to die for these people, then I have to."

Speight told reporters this outside the Parliament complex this afternoon.

The attempted coup leader said he did not have to lobby for the support from the Great Council of Chiefs and they decision have to be a collective decision. If the Great Council of Chiefs did not back Speight's demands, it "will have to explain to the people, not me".

"The [council] has to explain to the people why they believe their future shouldn't go the way these people want it should go. I've done my job, I have executed the truth and have stopped the world's attention. I have the government as I speak and now I leave it all up to the [council] to make a decision", said Speight.

The coup leader said he and his men would continue to hold the elected Prime Minister Mahendhra Chaudhry and his cabinet captive until the people got what they wanted.

About 600 people were drinking grog [kava] and singing inside the Parliament complex this afternoon and Speight claimed that those were his "soldiers".

The coup leader who looked relaxed said he is not afraid of anyone.

"I have the people with me, just look around you and see how many people here now. These are my soldiers," added Speight

Pacific Media Watch: http://www.pactok.net.au/docs/pmw/

© Scoop Media