FIJI: REBEL LEADER SPEIGHT TALKS WITH MILITARY

(19 Jun 2000) English/Nat

Fijian rebel leader George Speight said on Monday he would accept the appointment of ethnic Indians to the country's next government, offering new hope of an end to a lengthy hostage crisis.

Speight and an armed gang who claim to be fighting for the rights of Fiji's indigenous majority are holding 31 hostages in parliament, include deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

A new round of negotiations is taking place between Speight and Fiji's military rulers about the makeup of an interim administration.

George Speight, leader of the coup in Fiji, is still holding talks over the future of the South Pacific nation.

Speight was looking for a new government that denies the ethnic Indian minority political power.

Resentment is high among Fijians against the large Indian minority, which dominates business.

Sugar, the nation's cash crop, is at the core of Fiji's troubles.

Indian farmers built the industry by operating plantations on land communally owned by indigenous Fijians and leased at low rates set by English colonial law.

Those leases are due to be renewed, and the government's refusal to accept demands for higher rent enraged many Fijians.

The military took control of Fiji and imposed martial law 10 days after Speight's gang raided parliament on May 19 and are holding hostages.

The hostages include deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry - Fiji's first ethnic Indian leader - and other members of his government.

Speight is heading into a new round of talks with Fiji's military rulers about the makeup of an interim administration.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have got over one big obstacle and that is the joint agreement as to who we all support in relation to the president of Fiji."
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, coup leader

He said it was possible that ethnic Indians could be included in the appointments made by a new president.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is possible that the president will appoint some of our brothers and sisters from the ethnic community to participate. If that is the case then we will accept it. "
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, coup leader

Speight added that he does not want to be in the new government.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
" I'm not in the list, I'm not in the lineup, I'm not in government and I'm certainly don't propose that I take part in any way."
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, coup leader

Military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama has announced a plan to restore civilian rule in which he will appoint an interim administration which will oversee a recasting of the constitution, then hold elections.

This would take at least two years.

The throwing out of the 1997 constitution - which gives equal representation to ethnic Indians - was one of Speight's key demands.

He and a core group have also been offered an amnesty if they surrender their weapons and release the hostages.

On-off negotiations between the military and Speight have centered around who will be part of the interim government.

Bainimarama has said Speight will not be part of the new government, but has indicated that some people who support his cause but who were not directly involved in the coup attempt may be included.

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