Powerful Fiji chiefs gather to discuss stance on coup
By Malenie Judy,WNS Pacific Bureau Chief
SYDNEY - Fiji's powerful indigenous chiefs have gathered to thrash out their response to the military coup that deposed the government of nationalist prime minister Laisenia Qarase. The Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), a powerful advisory body which also has the power to appoint the country's president and vice-president, has so far refused to recognise military commander Voreqe Bainimarama's regime. The chiefs have said they want to find a way to resolve the crisis caused by the December 5 coup but Bainimarama has refused to attend the meeting. The military has also prevented Qarase travelling from his home village in the remote Lau group of islands to the two-day meeting in the capital Suva. Bainimarama named himself as interim president following the coup but wants the GCC to reappoint Ratu Josefa Iloilo to the post so he can then name a caretaker government. The ailing 85-year-old Iloilo did not attend the first day of the chiefs' meeting. The chiefs debated their own proposal, under which the military would surrender power to Iloilo, who would name an interim government, which would eventually call fresh elections. Under the proposal, Qarase would not take any part in an interim government and the military would be given immunity from any legal action over the coup.
However, the plan – which will be voted on by the chiefs on Thursday – is unlikely to be accepted by Bainimarama. He said this week the military intended to retain power until alleged government corruption had been stamped out. Fiji's economy is in a precarious position following the coup, with the main industry tourism taking a hammering from thousands of cancellations and a slump in bookings for the popular South Pacific holiday destination.
The United States announced sanctions against the military regime Tuesday, joining Australia and New Zealand in trying to pressure Bainimarama. The US sanctions cover around 2.5 million dollars in primarily military-related aid and bar new economic assistance programs to Fiji, the State Department said in a statement. Washington suspended deliveries and sales of "lethal military equipment" and banned the country's military from US-sponsored military exercises or conferences. It also barred senior military officers and members of the army-installed interim government from visiting the United States.
posted by wnsworld @ 4:35 PM
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