Speight tours Suva, says media will see Chaudhry

SUVA - The leader of the Fiji coup, George Speight, left the parliamentary complex where he holds Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and some of his government members hostage, for a few hours this morning.

Speight drove through the capital city, Suva, under police escort to assess damage from rioting last Friday in which 15 shops were burned and 167 looted.

On his return, Speight said the damage he saw in the city reflected the frustrations of his people.

Speight also promised to allow journalists to meet Prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry and other members of his Peoples Coalition Government later today.

He said his so-called 'ministers' will go to their respective offices today.

Speight says he is confident the Bose Levu Vakaturga [Great Council of Chiefs] will support him when it meets tomorrow.

"I am supremely confident that the Great Council of Chiefs will endorse what has taken place. There will be some who are against but there is a majority will back me," he said.

The Taukei [Fijian nationalist] Movement led by Ratu Tevita Bolobolo is threatening civil war if President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara allows armed forces to free the hostages.

Former MP Ratu Josefa Dimuri who accompanied Ratu Bolobolo to parliament said they were also looking at the legality of the Great Council of Chiefs meeting.

He said the Council was governed by the Fijian Affairs Act and the abrogation of the Constitution by Speight could also mean its dissolution. He said they would seek legal opinion today before deciding whether to attend the meeting. If they do attend, a motion may arise seeking to remove Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara as President.

Ratu Tevita and Ratu Josefa met Speight yesterday afternoon to pledge their support for and listen to his views. Ratu Josefa said after the meeting that Speight remained committed to his fight for indigenous Fijians.

- FIJI VILLAGE NEWS