Army asks Fiji cane farmers to harvest

2:00 PM

The Fiji military forces have asked sugar cane farmers to begin harvesting their crops - but deny reports that they will try to force a harvest under martial law.

Military spokesperson Lt Col Filipo Tarakinikini says that choosing not to harvest will make it harder for Fiji's economy to recover after the current political crisis.

"We know that there may be genuine reasons and feelings toward what is happening. But we hope that good sense and responsibility will prevail," he said.

Most of the country's cane farmers are Fiji Indians - who fear losing their rights if the political system is redesigned to meet the demands of ethnic Fijian rebels who conducted a coup almost three weeks ago.

"We need to put aside differences, especially among unions, political affiliations and races," Lt Col Tarakinikini said. "We need to re-affirm our commitment to our country and its people in order to lighten the...economic burden that we have to carry at the end of all this."

Meanwhile the Chairman of the Fiji Sugar Commission, Gerald Barrack, says international buyers are concerned about Fiji's ability to supply. He points out that to date, the industry has rescheduled three cargos of sugar which were to be shipped this month.

The chief executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council, Grish Maharaj, says their councillors will meet with gang sirdars and growers over the next two days to determine how many farmers will harvest.

He said the choice of whether to harvest or not is a personal one and that the Sugar Cane Growers Council cannot force the issue.

Lt Col Tarakinikini also revealed that the military government is continuing to pay Mahendra Chaudhry and other MP's being held hostage by rebel George Speight and his followers.

"The policy of the military Government is that all ministers and office holders who cannot perform their task during this crisis will continue to receive their pay indefinitely until the crisis is over and than considerations will be done in due respect to the situation ," said Lt. Colonel Tarakinikini.

- FIJI VILLAGE NEWS

George Speight talks to IRN's Barry Soper

(10 min).