Fijian rebels leave court on $50 bail

SUVA - Fijian authorities began charging the first of hundreds of supporters of coup leader George Speight yesterday, as the military-backed Government tried to restore order after 10 weeks of turmoil.

Soldiers stood guard on the roof of Suva's old Parliament House as groups of about 10 rebels at a time began filing into two courtrooms inside to face unlawful assembly charges that carry a maximum one-year jail term.

The first group of rebels entered court with clenched fists raised to cheers from hundreds of supporters gathered outside.

The rebels pleaded not guilty and were granted $F50 ($51) bail, ordered not to congregate or hold political assemblies, and told to return to court in four weeks.

"These are not violent people," said defence lawyer Rabo Matabalavu.

"They were peacefully conducting their affairs when they were surprised by the military."

Soldiers raided the rebels' camp at a Suva school last Thursday, capturing more than 350 of them.

Speight had been detained the night before.

The raid came two weeks after the rebels had freed deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and left Suva's parliamentary compound.



The military yesterday also regained control of a barracks in Labasa where rebel soldiers had held about 40 other servicemen hostage for several weeks.

Faced with an ultimatum to surrender by midnight last night or risk an assault, the rebels left voluntarily, said a military spokesman.

The Army is also hoping for a peaceful end this week to the rebel occupation of a hydro-electric facility at Monasavu on the main island of Viti Levu.

However, there were reports that a number of Indian-owned houses north of Suva were looted and burned on Sunday night.

Speaking from Australia, Chaudhry said yesterday that maintaining law and order was the hardest task ahead for racially split Fiji and that outside help might be needed.

He suggested that the new Administration of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase should look for help from world bodies if it could not maintain order.

"Maybe the UN would be the right body to approach in this regard and they can work the details out," Chaudhry said after meeting Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Chaudhry left Fiji on Sunday for the first time since his release after being held for 56 days by Speight's rebels, who demanded an end to the political power of the ethnic Indian community, which makes up 44 per cent of the population.

Speight, although granted an amnesty under the deal that led to the release of the hostages, now faces possible treason charges, which carry the death penalty. He has been isolated on an island off Suva.

Fiji's major English language newspapers yesterday supported the new Government and called for racial reconciliation.

A Fiji Times editorial urged the public to back interim Prime Minister Qarase, saying that with Speight now isolated, Fiji had a chance to move forward.

The Fiji Post said the new Government was a "dream team" of men and women of goodwill, vision and courage.

Chaudhry said yesterday that he still regarded himself as Fiji's constitutionally elected leader and that he had not ruled out the idea of establishing a government in exile.

- REUTERS