Fiji's hostage PM will not return to power -- Military head

Fiji's hostage PM will not return to power -- Military head
AGENCIES

SUVA, MAY 31: FIJI'S new military ruler said on Wednesday there was no chance that Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry's government, which is being held hostage in parliament, would resume its leadership of the Pacific island nation.

"Mahendra Chaudhry will no longer come back as Prime Minister,'' said Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, who declared martial law on Monday and appointed a new civilian Prime minister in the early hours of Wednesday.

Bainimarama also announced on Wednesday, in a surprise move, an indefinite postponement of the planned naming and swearing in of an interim civil administration. ``It is prudent at this point in time to retain (the) military council until the climate is right for a civil administration to take over,'' he told senior officers at Fiji's military headquarters. ``We will defer the naming and swearing in of the interim government until we are sure that the situation has stabilised to a point where they can... put in place a viable constitution and pave the way for the next general elections and the return to democratic rule,'' Bainimarama said.

The interim military government would be in place until all the hostages were released and all arms had been returned to the Army, the military chief added. Bainimarama confirmed that George Speight, the coup leader who has held Chaudhry and his ministers hostage since May 19, will be allowed to walk free after the crisis is over. ``We've drawn up a decree that has been nearly finalised, granting an amnesty,'' he told reporters.

Despite the declaration of martial law, the scene outside the besieged parliament was chaotic Wednesday and it appeared the military was still completely unable to enforce control over the coup leaders. Speight's armed supporters went on the rampage outside the building's rear entrance. Police confirmed that at least 10 cars were hijacked and driven inside the compound. Their attack sent people and traffic scattering, and the area to the rear of parliament was deserted by mid-afternoon.

In a counter-move, the military reinforced its positions along the road to the Front entrance of the building and increased barbed wire checkpoints around the city and trunk routes leading to the parliamentary complex.

Bainimarama on Wednesday named Ratu Epeli Nailatikau -- a former Army commander and son-in-law of President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara -- as his Prime Minister in a government of non-aligned professionals. Mara was forced to step down from office on Monday as part of Speight's demands for the release of the hostages. But Speight's spokesman Joe Nata said the choice of Nailatikau was completely unacceptable, saying ``he has no commitment to the cause''.

The coup leaders have claimed to be acting on behalf of indigenous Fijians in ousting Chaudhry -- Fiji's first ethnic Indian Prime Minister. Bainimarama dismissed the coup plotters' reaction and made it clear that Speight's men, ethnic Indians and members of the deposed Chaudhry cabinet would not be included in the interim cabinet. It is understood talks between the military and Speight's group broke down Wednesday on this issue. Diplomatic sources have told AFP that Chaudhry has made it clear to his captors that he is determined to resume power -- a defiant stance that has delayed his release.

Although Bainimarama's eight-member military council has not been named publicly, former prime minister and two-time coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka is believed to be playing a key role on it, according to diplomatic sources.

Meanwhile, one of the hostages, assistant minister to the Prime Minister's office Adi Ema Tagicakibau, was released on Wednesday morning to attend her sister's funeral on condition she returned to the complex. Police confirmed she returned to the parliamentary compound after the event. President Mara attempted to end the crisis on Saturday by dismissing Chaudhry and promising to restore the indigenous population's former monopoly on power. But Speight rejected the move. Bainimarama stepped in Monday to try to restore order following a night of violence in the capital Suva.