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SUVA - Fiji's deposed prime minister Laisenia Qarase says the country is sliding into a dictatorship to compare with Saddam Hussein's Iraq as he denied claims he was plotting to set up a de facto government.
Military ruler Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, who seized power from Qarase in a bloodless coup last Tuesday, today said he had received information that the former prime minister was planning to set up a de facto government in the country's west.
Bainimarama warned Qarase and his supporters that any rival government would be put down and those assisting would be "putting themselves in harm's way."
Qarase vehemently denied he was plotting a new government from his home island Vanuabalavu where he was banished following the coup.
"That is an absolute lie," he said from his village Mavana.
"I don't know what his intentions are, but he's misleading the people as usual.
"There is absolutely no plan to set up any government.
"There is one legal government in the country, that is mine. Then there's his government and now he's talking about another one. He's making a fool of Fiji in the international community.
"People are getting more and more concerned with his state of mind and what he's doing.
"Our country is sliding rapidly into a total dictatorship. The signs are there - people are being rounded up, being intimidated, particularly in Suva.
"This is the sort of dictatorship you found when Idi Amin was in Uganda. Bainimarama's in that category - Saddam Hussein, Hitler, Idi Amin."
Bainimarama told a news conference at his Queen Elizabeth Barracks headquarters that his military has been told of Qarase's de facto government plans.
"Let me categorically state here and now that the military will not allow any form of any government anywhere else in Fiji," Bainimarama told reporters.
"I appeal to all of you who have been influenced not to allow yourselves to be used; you're only putting yourselves in harm's way.
"People influenced by Qarase are nothing but selfish people, whose only interest is to further their own agendas, not those of the nation."
Bainimarama's spokesman, Major Neumi Leweni, would not reveal where the information of the planned de facto government came from, only saying: "we have ears and eyes on the ground."
Qarase still plans to defy Bainimarama's call to stay on Vanuabalavu and will make no attempts to conceal his return to Suva some time this week.
He also says he has no reason to fear imprisonment, despite a warning from Land Forces commander Pita Driti that he could be immediately taken to Nukulau Island Prison on his arrival.
Qarase said he would risk detention for the sake of returning Fiji to democratic rule.
"I'd like to come in to Suva very publicly," Qarase said.
"I want to come to Nausori airport. I do believe there will be a large group of supporters to greet me and I think the military might be concerned about that.
"I expect to be detained. Nukulau Island is a possibility, but you put criminals on Nukulau. I am not criminal, I have done nothing wrong.
"It doesn't worry me. The crucial thing is the people of Fiji want to restore democracy."
Qarase was still on Vanuabalavu today, helping on a water project in Mavana and trying secure a flight to Suva as soon as possible.
His private secretary Sakiasi Ditoka was formally sacked today from his public service position, joining a cast of other political and public service figures sacked in the military regime's clean out of the former government.
The latest round of sackings also include airports boss Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia, National Reconciliation and Multi Ethnic Affairs chief Apisalome Tudreu, Public Service Commission (PSC) chief executive Anare Jale and Qarase's Principal Legal Officer Ilaitia Tamata.
The police commissioner, his deputy and the acting commissioner were all sacked last week, while the PSC chairman, supervisor of elections and solicitor-general were also sent packing in Bainimarama's massive clean up campaign.
Bainimarama had admitted dissenters are regularly taken, often from homes and public places in Suva, to the barracks for questioning and warned not to speak out against the military regime.
- AAP
