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SUVA - Fiji's military commander has addressed a gathering of indigenous chiefs trying to broker a resolution to his dangerous standoff with the Pacific nation's prime minister.
After boycotting yesterday's session of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) in Suva, Commodore Frank Bainimarama gave a presentation this morning after reportedly obtaining an assurance the body would not try to resolve the row itself.
A delegation of chiefs visited Cdre Bainimarama yesterday to ask him to come to the meeting.
"We told the delegation to go back and tell the GCC chairman that the army will only come in if the chiefs are to back off and let the government solve the problem," he told the Fiji Sun newspaper.
"I've received the call from Ratu Ovini (Bokini) giving me his assurances that it will happen that way so we will attend the GCC meeting."
Bokini is the GCC chairman.
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase last week tried and failed to have Cdre Bainimarama replaced after the miltary boss threatened to force his resignation.
Cdre Bainimarama opposes contentious legislation in Fiji, including a bill that would give amnesty to people implicated in the 2000 coup.
Cdre Bainimarama had initially refused to speak the GCC unless Qarase agreed to drop three controversial bills.
Dressed in his formal white navy uniform, Cdre Bainimarama stopped to shake hands with a police officer before striding with his entourage into the meeting room of about 50 chiefs.
As well as its row with the government, the military leadership is engaged in a tense dispute with Fiji Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes, an Australian.
Qarase, who as prime minister is a member of the GCC, was present for Cdre Bainimarama's address.
The pair have yet to meet since the commander returned from overseas last weekend.
The prime minister yesterday told the council he would not be withdrawing bills on foreshore and land rights for indigenous Fijians, as sought by his military rival.
Qarase also outlined changes to legislation, aimed at reconciling 2000 coup issues, which remove proposed amnesties for coup offenders but hold out the prospect of mercy pleas.
The GCC brings together provincial hereditary chiefs and plays a constitutional role in Fiji, including the appointment of its president, vice president and nearly half the senate.
Cdre Bainimarama says the body does not have a mandate to resolve the standoff because it does not represent all Fiji citizens.
Nearly 40 per cent of the population is ethnic Indian.
Meanwhile, Cdre Bainimarama has accepted that about eight Australians who arrived in Fiji last week are defence personnel sent to assist the Australian High Commission in Suva.
The commander had said the personnel would be treated as mercenaries, who were breaching Fiji's sovereignty.
But then he received a call from Australian Defence Force chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, advising him of their status.
"Yes, I've spoken to the head of the Australian Defence Force who called and told me the men were his and were not mercenaries," Cdre Bainimarama told the Sun.
- AAP
