FIJI: GEORGE SPEIGHT GIVEN WARNING BY MILITARY

(5 Jun 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Fiji's military handed coup leader George Speight and his men an ultimatum on Monday to release their hostages and lay down their guns.

In the army's strongest warning yet to the rebel leader, army Commander Frank Bainimarama said he was not prepared to entertain any more demands by Speight and his men.

He said Speight and his men would be granted an amnesty for the seizure of Fiji's parliament and MPs including Fiji's first ethnic Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

But the army head stated that he would not agree to Speight's key demand that the rebel leader and his close supporters be included in an interim civilian government.

There's a heavy army presence on the streets of Fiji's capital Suva.

The military took power a week ago and declared martial law as the crisis deepened.

The capital has been tense but calm over the past few days.

But tension on the political front has dramatically increased, with Fiji's military leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama handing coup leader George Speight an ultimatum

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Our mandate is to bring back normalcy to our lives, and as such, we will not entertain any more demands by George Speight and his men. We have promised them an easy way out through the amnesty. We would like them to leave (the parliamentary compound), have the hostages released, return all arms, so we can bring back some form of normalcy to our lives."
SUPERCAPTION: Commodore Frank Bainimarama

In his remarks, Commodore Bainimarama pointedly did not say what the military would do if Speight ignored his ultimatum.

The army leader also said that while he could offer Speight and his men an amnesty, foreign governments had warned of a major economic backlash against Fiji if the military agreed to any more of the coup leader's demands.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They have requested that ...errrr... one of the main point of contention is their inclusion in an interim government. We have stated that this is impossible. For one simple reason, there has been a lot of talk of backlash, not only from the local community, but from the overseas community if any member of George Speight or his team is included in the interim government. The European Union has written to me, stating that if George Speight or any of his men is included in the interim government, they will not take on sugar from Fiji. Those are some of the concerns that we have to take into account."
SUPERCAPTION: Commodore Frank Bainimarama

The E-U's threat is particularly worrying to the military, as sugar is the island nation's top export commodity.

The military says no further negotiations are scheduled with Speight, but is says the door remains open for more talks.

It says that while Speight should surrender, his concerns would be reflected in a new constitution.

The coup leader is seeking a new constitution that will discriminate against the island's ethnic Indian minority that owns many of Fiji's businesses.

At the parliamentary compound where he and his men are holding hostage a group of MP's, including Fiji's first ethnic Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, George Speight seemed unimpressed by the military's ultimatum.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'm here to confirm that the discussions which have been taking place between my group and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces have come to a standstill"
SUPERCAPTION: George Speight, coup leader

Monday's developments made it appear unlikely that Speight would be willing to free his hostages, who have been held in parliament since May 19, any time in the immediate future.




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