Fiji police guard ballots as counting begins

SUVA - Fiji police said today they would put a round-the-clock guard on polling stations during counting of more than 400,000 ballots cast in the first general election since the military took control 15 months ago.

"We are taking every precaution that is needed during the counting," said police superintendent Romanu Tikotikoca. Vote counting is expected to take about five days.

Unofficial exit polls indicated most Fijians had voted along ethnic lines, leaving former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, the country's first ethnic Indian premier, and his Labour Party as clear front-runners.

Police cancelled all leave in the run-up to the election, which lasted a week and ended on Saturday, and have deployed 400 officers at counting stations. United Nations and other international observers are also present.

The military, under pressure from the international community, called the election to replace the government it had installed after nationalists stormed parliament on May 19, 2000, and deposed Chaudhry.

At the time, the army said it had no choice but to hand-pick a new administration to avoid chaos.

The military's choice, caretaker Prime Minister Lasenia Qarase, is expected to make a strong showing and could be included if a coalition government is formed.

"We want peace in Fiji and must abide by the results of the vote, whatever it may be," said Posiano Nauka, a New Labour party candidate.

A handful of candidates and polling officials gathered at a grammar school in Suva to monitor the first ballots to arrive before counting starts today - the furthest coming from the island of Lau, closer to Tonga than Suva.

Fiji, a nation of more than 300 islands, 110 of them populated, gained independence from Britain in 1970.

Fijian society has long been divided, the descendants of indentured Indian labourers controlling much of the sugar industry and many small businesses.

Indigenous Fijians, a mixture of Melanesians and Polynesians, represent a slight majority of the 800,000 population and traditionally run dairy farms and raise cattle, though tourism is the number one income earner.

The May 2000 coup was led by George Speight, an insurance salesman and ultra-nationalist who claimed Fiji's indigenous culture was being overrun by Indian ways.

Speight is currently in jail awaiting trial for treason for his role in the coup.

Police monitored individuals and groups linked to the coup during the voting and reported no racially based problems.

"I'm pleading to the people of Fiji, especially my people, to accept the decision of the people," said Ratu Inoke Takiveita, a prominent chief of the Naitasiri provinces, where Speight enjoyed strong support.

At a Hindu fire-walking ceremony in Suva designed to purify the soul, Muni Ratnar Reddy, a third generation Indo-Fijian, said the annual event was also being dedicated to peace in the country. "It is the only way forward," he said.

Said police superintendent Tikotikoca: "I have been walking on fire since May 19, 2000."

- REUTERS

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