Military threatens another Fiji coup

Voreque Bainimarama

A week before leaders congregate in Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum, the country's military commander is reported to have again threatened to remove the Government, triggering New Zealand condemnation.

It was reported in Fiji yesterday that the armed forces last week gave the Government three weeks to dump contentious legislation or resign.

Commodore Voreque Bainimarama is in the Middle East, but was quoted in the Fiji Times as saying: "We don't have to take over because the military will walk into the office of the Prime Minister and demand his resignation."

Reports of the threats were condemned by NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who said the "resign or else" ultimatum was disappointing. "New Zealand is very concerned about the commander's threats that he will overthrow the legitimate Government in Suva if it does not do what he says."

Prime Minister Helen Clark said Fiji this year had undergone a satisfactory electoral process and a multiparty Government had been formed.

"People are working with goodwill to make it succeed ... The last thing Fiji needs is threats from the military commander."

The renewed tension in Fiji came as Pacific leaders were already bracing themselves for a contentious forum in Nadi after a breakdown in relations between Australia and the Governments of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. This followed failed Australian attempts to extradite the Solomons suspended Attorney-General, Julian Moti, from PNG for alleged sex offences.

Fiji Military Forces spokesman Captain Neumi Leweni told the Herald last night the Fijian media reports were rehashing comments made at a military press conference last week.

He denied the Fiji Times report quoting an officer talking about a three-week deadline, but effectively confirmed an ultimatum had been given. "We said they should stop and think about the direction they are taking the nation and make some drastic decisions or otherwise think about running the country."

He would not go into further detail about what that might mean, but Commodore Bainimarama told the Fiji Times: "If the people want us to do this, we will do it.

"At this stage Fiji needs good governance and the military will demand their resignation. There is nothing illegal about this."

Captain Leweni said any internal dispute would not disrupt the forum.

There have been a string of disagreements between the military and the Government in recent months, and just over a week ago Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase rejected military calls to resign.