FIJI: COUP UPDATE 2

(1 Jun 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Members of Fiji's military met with supporters of coup leader George Speight on Thursday in a significant beginning to discussions between the two parties.
Earlier on Thursday George Speight used a press conference to challenge the military to visit the compound and talk to coup supporters and tribal leaders about the composition of Fiji's next government.
It's been two weeks since Speight led a coup on Fiji's parliament in a bid to forcefully remove ethnic Indians from their seats of power.
Thirty ex-government leaders are still being held hostage in the grounds.
Unarmed soldiers entered Fiji's parliamentary compound on Thursday - the same compound where ex-government leaders have been held hostage for fourteen days.
The soldiers were there to seek talks with coup leader George Speight about securing the hostages' release.
In accordance with Fijian tradition, the talks began with the consumption of Kava - a mild intoxicant drink made from the pounded root of a local plant.
The 40 troops - empowered by the declaration of martial law on Monday - shared the drink with supporters of rebel boss George Speight outside the Parliament, then went inside at about 3.30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT).
Earlier on Thursday Speight had challenged the nation's military rulers to visit parliament and hear the wishes of ethnic Fijians before making any more decisions about how the country's 14-day hostage crisis should be resolved.
Speight told press conference reporters he thought a delegation from the military should meet with tribal chiefs.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The military should think again about trying to impose a moral standard on my group when they themselves in 1987 did the same thing, so you know, I'm telling them, get off their high horse, concentrate on the issues. They are in no position to dictate who should be and who should not be in the interim government. That is not their decision.
SUPER CAPTION: Coup Leader, George Speight
As the press conference drew to a close, journalists asked Speight about the continued violence in Suva by people claiming to be supporters of the coup.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Some of our supporters in here still remain.. they are all committed to the cause. Some of them want to go exhibit, their.. display their commitment in ways that we would all consider to be inappropriate, considering the way that all the discussions are taking place. It's been for 12, 13 or 14 days.. quite a lot of them are young men, you know, who want to see action and results, like now, so you got all that.
(Question) And you can't control them?
I can't control them, I can't control them.
The thing is, that constantly this takes communication, and dialogue.
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, Coup Leader
On Wednesday, armed supporters of Speight stoned cars and beat their drivers in the capital outside the Parliament complex.
Police and soldiers did little to stop them.
The violence seemed to target Fiji's Indian minority.
Men armed with automatic rifles and others carrying clubs and knives dragged drivers out of their cars, robbed them and took the vehicles.
And on Thursday, a handful of Speight supporters beat up two policemen close to parliament.
Fearing the violence in Suva, farmers and others from outlying villagers have been reluctant to enter the city.
Their reluctance has begun to have a damaging effect on Suva's economy.
At Suva's main produce market on Thursday sellers were complaining of less produce to sell because farmers were too scared to deliver their goods.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
his gang an amnesty.

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