Bracing Up For Possible Friday Destabilisation

Suva Bracing Up For Possible Friday Destabilisation

Issue No: 241 30 November 2000

Suva has been tense today and is bracing up for another major campaign of destabilisation.

Rumours have been high that right wing indigenous Fijians will try to take over government and local government installations in Nausori just outside Suva. Whether this is to demand money from the regime, or whether it is a part of a wider campaign to replace the Qarase regime by pro-terrorist politicians, is not clear.

One parliamentarian, who joined the terrorists after 19 May, today threatened a financial institution he went to to seek funds by saying that there was no point in not approving funds for him because "you will see tomorrow; there will be no government to protect".

It is also rumoured that a terrorist group, comprising some soldiers, has been holed up in the interior of Viti Levu and readying itself for a takeover of the interim regime. The military has stated that over 3 dozen military issued weapons are still with terrorists. Other sources indicate that there is a massive stockpile of weapons available to the terrorists. Rumours are strong that this group may attempt to disrupt the western Viti Levu tomorrow.

Businesses, banks, and embassies have all reportedly braced for a worst possible outcome for tomorrow. The military is also on high alert.

Last weekend, the military announced that there were rumours of groups attempting to destabilise the nation.

Meanwhile, the ban placed on Sitiveni Rabuka from entering military establishments in the country was lifted on Tuesday. Today, Police Commissioner Isikia Savua was also cleared of allegations of his involvement with the terrorists. It is also now known that days before the 2 November attempted coup, certain ethnic Indian politicians belonging to the defeated National Federation Party were approached by Rabuka to be on his Cabinet in case the Great Council of Chiefs replaced Qarase by Rabuka.

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