6Issue No: 160; 30 October 2000
The military has arrested 6 persons who planned to bomb and shoot civilians over the past weekend.
The Military's spokesman, Major Howard Politini told Fiji TV news today (30 October) that the 6 had guns and other
devices which they were planning to use during the Diwali long weekend. The 6 belong to various political parties but
have close links with George Speight. Politini stated that the group wanted to continue with the activities of 19 May.
Numerous military issued arms are still with terrorists. Escaped prisoner Alifereti Nimacere and terrorist Tevita Poese
have also been seen carrying arms. Today's Fiji Times reported that the duo were seen in Lautoka on Friday. Both were
armed with rifles.
It is believed that the terrorists still on the lose have re-grouped and are getting some support from politicians,
including some close to the interim regime. Reports were lodged to the police earlier of information received by
People's Coalition that one prominent politician was possibly involved in plans to harm some key Peoples Coalition
members.
END
NZ, Aust firm on Fiji
Issue No: 159; 30 October 2000
New Zealand and Australia will not attend the next Pacific Forum meeting if it is held in Fiji under the Qarase regime.
This was revealed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries at the Forum meeting in Tarawa. Fiji was to host the 2001
Forum meeting. The forum has put off the decision-making on who would host the next meeting by 2 months.
According to a Fiji TV report tonight, New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clarke also refused to host a lunch for the
Forum leaders because she said she did "not want to play host to" Fiji's interim leader Laisenia Qarase.
The Australian and New Zealand reportedly pushed for a Forum stand on Fiji but this was not accepted. Instead the Forum
opted for establishing the Biketawa Declaration, named after the atoll island on which the leaders held their retreat.
According to a report by Rowan Callick of the Australian Financial Review, Australia and NZ were happy that the Forum
has finally agreed to a framework to deal with internal political upheavals in member countries. The Biketawa
Declaration was at first resisted by Fiji's interim PM, Laisenia Qarase but he finally agreed to the Declaration, saying
Fiji had been "let off the hook" of a tougher position originally sought by Australia.
Callick quotes the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard as saying: "I am always alarmed, concerned, critical of
suggestions that you put race into a constitution."
The Biketawa Declaration commits Forum states to "equal rights for all citizens regardless of gender, race, colour,
creed or political belief and in the individual's inalienable right to participate by means of free and democratic
political process in framing the society in which he or she lives".
While the Forum decided against taking any action on Fiji this time, and seemed to have accepted the Qarase plan of an
election in 18 months, the message for Qarase, who is now trying to write a constitution denying the non-indigenous
population political rights, is clear: that he can not deny anyone political rights on the basis of race, colour, gender
or political belief.
END
Terrorist soldiers "did a good job" – Army
Issue No: 156; 29 October 2000
The military has defended the release of the soldiers involved in the terrorist-style take-over of the Parliament on 19
May by saying that they did a good job.
Today's Fiji Times (29 October) quotes military spokesman Major Howard Politini as saying:
"The people should realise that these soldiers were responsible for the security of the hostages in Parliament and they
did a good job".
He further stated: "They were well trained and had the power to contain those rowdy and abusive crowd" who went to the
Parliament Complex to show support to George Speight.
That these soldiers-turned-terrorists were the ones not only responsible for taking over an elected government, but also
for abusing and torturing the hostages for 56 days is of no consequence to the military.
Also, that the "rowdy and abusive crowd" who went to the Parliament Complex went through the numerous military
checkpoints outside the Parliament Complex is also of no consequence.
One hostage commented that the release of the terrorists by the military and their re-employment by the army confirm
that at least a faction of the military has always been supportive of the terrorists and the removal of the elected
government at gunpoint.
END
Vice President Won't Act as President
Issue No: 155; 29 October 2000
The Interim President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo has decided that he will not appoint Interim Vice-President, Ratu Jope
Seniloli to act in his place when he leaves for his medical treatment in Australia tomorrow.
The decision, after long meetings on Friday and Saturday, was taken in light of the general unacceptability of Seniloli
to head the highest institution of the land because of his endorsement of terrorist George Speight and his activities.
Speight swore in Seniloli as Fiji's President on 20 May. The police are now investigating Seniloli for his involvement
with the terrorists. A statement from the Government House stated that the investigation must be allowed to "continue
unimpeded and encouraged to take its course".
The Permanent Secretary in the President's Office, Luke Ratuvuki was quoted by today's Fiji Times as saying that the
decision that the interim President retains his powers while overseas "was temporary".
There's strong speculation that the chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs and former Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka
is vying for the position. He told the media he would take up the position if called upon to do so. The Great Council of
Chiefs, which nominates the President, meets towards end of November.
Rumours that Rabuka has been vying for the position have been widespread in Fiji for long. Even the Speight terrorists
told the Government members held hostage in the Parliament Complex that the initial plan was that Rabuka was to become
the President and now suspended Police Commissioner Isikia Savua was to become the Prime Minister immediately after the
19 May storming in of the Parliament by Speight.
END
Anti-regime meetings banned
Issue No: 154; 28 October 2000
The interim regime has allowed public meetings to be held by political, social and religious bodies as long as the
meetings are open to the military and the police.
The Ministry of Home Affairs states that any political, social, cultural or religious organisation can hold meetings to
discuss and prepare their submissions to the regime's Constitution Commission provided four conditions are met. The
conditions are, first, that a permit be sought, second, that the discussion be confined to constitutional issues only,
third, that the meetings be open to all members of the public including the police and the army, and fourth, that the
timing be adhered to and venue specified.
The police/army have reserved the right to determine which matters are within the ambit of "constitutional issues".
During the meeting, they can intervene and determine that a matter is not a constitutional matter and thus cancel the
meeting. The military intelligence unit and the police special branch have also been gathering information on
pro-democratic people and organizations.
By specifying that the police and the military must be allowed in any meeting, and by granting them powers to determine
whether a discussion is on constitutional matters, Is not only designed to intimidate the pro-democracy movement in
Fiji, but it also effectively bans groups which are opposed to the Qarase regime from holding meetings.
END
Fiji far from normal
Issue No: 153; 28 October 2000
The interim regime's Attorney General and Minster for Justice, Alipate Qetaki says Fiji is far from normal.
In a letter published today in the Fiji Times (28 Oct), Qetaki wrote: "the presence of the Emergency Decree implies that
the situation in Fiji is far from being normal."
This is the real Fiji. Military issued and other illegally acquired arms are still in the hands of terrorists, numerous
terrorists and prison escapees are still at large, nightly curfews still continue in Suva, military checkpoints are
still present throughout the country, free speech is still not allowed, journalists are taken at gun point and
interrogated, hundreds of refugees still stay in refugee camps, massive eviction of small-holder ethnic Indian farmers
is continuing, etc.
For once, one Qarase Minister has come out with some truth.
This is in direct contrast to what the regime has been informing investors and other nations. For example, the regime's
Commerce Minister only this week told the Australia-Fiji Business Council in Queensland that the political situation in
Fiji is already stable. Similarly, Foreign Affairs Minister, Kaliopate Tavola has been telling his overseas counterparts
that Fiji is already normal.
These lies are deliberately manufactured to show the world that the international community should accept the Qarase
regime and the terrorist activities of May 19 and after.
END
Regime Continues to Misinform; UK rejects regime statement
Issue No: 152; 27 October 2000
The Qarase regime has continued on the path to misinform the people of Fiji of the positions of the international
community, and to misinform the international community of the developments in Fiji.
Latest in the series of misinformation is the claim by the regime that the British government wanted Fiji's suspension
from the Commonwealth lifted immediately. According to the regime, its Foreign Minister, Kaliopate Tavola received this
message from the British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs John Battle. Tavola is also quoted by the regime as
saying that the British government has accepted the Qarase plan.
This is a gross lie.
The British High Commissioner, Mr. M A Price, has called the regime statement as "misleading and inaccurate". Price
clarified the UK stand in writing where he quoted John Battle's statement as follows:
"In my meeting with Mr. Tavola, I repeated Britain's commitment to ensuring the speedy restoration of constitutional
democracy in Fiji. I made it clear that Fiji could not resume its full place in the international community until the
Interim Administration had made real progress towards democracy, one that was within the framework of Fiji's 1997
Constitution."
The clarification has not been commented on by the regime.
The international opinion on Fiji is clear: Fiji must restore the 1997 Constitution and ensure that its political
conduct is within the framework of the 1997 Constitution.
END
A Dark Diwali
Issue No: 151; 27 October 2000
It was a dark Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights today (27 October).
Reports from throughout the country show that Diwali was marked by the Hindus by prayers only. Unlike other years, no
urban area - capital City Suva, Lautoka, Ba, Nadi, Labasa, Nausori, Sigatoka - had any special decoration. A vast
majority of families stayed home and refrained from putting on any special lights or decorations.
The elected Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry had called on the Hindus to spend the day in prayer. He stated: "We have
so many people who have become jobless, many are on sever pay cuts, so many children have become school dropouts, and
there are many who have become homeless on the expiry of their leases. There is discrimination against one community and
people have begun to feel the pinch of that discrimination. People should pray on Diwali, asking God for guidance, unity
and courage to fight for evil forces that were at work on May 19"
Similar calls were made by the Hindu religious organizations, and political parties. The NFP also supported the call for
prayers for guidance and courage.
All these calls were heeded by the entire Hindu population of the country.
Meanwhile, in his Diwali message, the Indian High Commissioner, Prof I S Chauhan stated: "This year Diwali has a
special significance. This is the first Diwali after the descent in May of dark clouds over the country. They left
death, destruction and devastation. No family, fraternity or community remained untouched."
The Catholic Church also gave a strong Diwali message. The Church's Archbishop, Petero Mataca, stated that Diwali is "an
excellent occasion for a wake-up call for all Fiji Islanders. We must stand up only for the Truth". He said:
"I found the events of May 19th and aftermath effects very disturbing. What I find disturbing is the inability of the
actors and participants to accept modern society, the changes that this brings to our lives and the creativity to move
forward .. Diwali is an opportune time to affirm the humanity of persons and the different cultural communities in our
Fiji society."
Archbishop Mataca further stated that the varied cultures of Fiji "must influence and enrich the whole population of our
beloved nation. Trying to affirm a culture in isolation is like preparing its epitaph."
END 27 October 2000