Army prepares for rebel raid that never happened

by EUGENE BINGHAM

SUVA - High above the palm trees, rooftop snipers stared down on a scene of panic in Suva yesterday.

Word had it that a marauding mob was coming; they were going to trash the hotel where the international media was staying and roll into town for another rampage.

Streets that were bustling with shoppers for the first time in two weeks drained within about an hour.

Shops and banks boarded up windows and extra soldiers arrived at key road blocks.

The mass evacuation was for nothing: no mob arrived and by late afternoon the country's commercial radio station, 96 FM, was leading its bulletin with the news that the only thing on the loose was a rumour.

The rumour mill has been working overtime so much that the station has taken to broadcasting advertisements pleading for residents of the Fiji capital to stamp out gossip.

"Please don't pass them on," says the message. "There is already enough fear and worry without adding lies."

Amid an environment in which the country's deposed Prime Minister and 30 hostages remain in the custody of unpredictable gunmen, it is no wonder people flee.

Yesterday, supporters of hostage-taker George Speight stole 10 cars, commandeering them from their owners as they drove near the parliamentary compound, a no-go zone for those who value their safety.

Fijian Indians say they fear attacks throughout the city, even with the country under martial law.

"I do not feel secure for my family and we have become as good as second-class citizens in our own country," said one Fijian Indian, who said he was hoping to escape to New Zealand with his wife and children.

Like others, the father of three said he could not see how the crisis was ever going to end.

Speight last night rejected a deal offered by military negotiators.

He has already been granted three of his wishes, but with the failed businessman's thirst for power not yet quenched, the hostages' lives remain in danger. He is using them to lever his supporters into positions on the military-appointed administration set to run the country for up to three years.

The leader of Fiji's armed forces, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, yesterday laughed off the prospect of Speight's people assuming government roles, particularly the position of interim Prime Minister.

"I don't know if any of them has the courage to go up and talk on behalf of Fijians after holding guns to hostages," Commodore Bainimarama told a press conference.

Instead, the Army has selected Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, son-in-law of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara who has stood down as President, to head the civilian administration which will run the country and oversee the rewriting of the constitution, revoked by decree this week.

It could be three years before elections are held. Until then, Fiji will suffer frosty international relations, though it is something Commodore Bainimarama says he has to accept and Speight does not care about.

Commodore Bainimarama said yesterday that he knew the international community would not be happy about the amnesty offered to Speight and his gunmen with whom he stormed Parliament on May 19.

"I understand that there will be a lot of disappointment in the community with regards to this issue of amnesty but we are trying to come up with options to facilitate the release of the hostages.

"I know there will be a lot of international repercussions that will go along with what we have done. But the [military] had to come up with ideas to ... provide security for the people of Fiji."

He hoped to secure the release of deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his cabinet soon, an event set to unleash another power struggle.

Supporters of Mr Chaudhry said yesterday that they refused to recognise the interim government.

"We want reinstatement of the Chaudhry Government," said Subash Verma, manager of the Fiji Labour Party's headquarters. Just how they would push for that was uncertain.

"The FLP management board will have to sit down and talk about that, but the bulk of the members of the management board are inside as hostages so it's pretty difficult."

More Fiji coup coverage

Under seige: map of the Parliament complex