Transtasman leaders urge Mara to pressure gunmen

By JOHN ARMSTRONG and VERNON SMALL in Wellington and GREG ANSLEY in Canberra

New Zealand applied diplomatic leverage on Fiji's Establishment politicians last night, urging the country's President to issue the strongest possible condemnation of yesterday's civilian coup and re-establish the elected Government.

The behind-the-scenes diplomacy included pressing the Fiji Army to stand behind President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and help him to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis.

While the intentions of Fiji's key political players remained murky, New Zealand is hoping Ratu Mara's chiefly authority will hold more sway than the populist Fijian nationalism of the coup leaders.

Helen Clark was scheduled to phone Ratu Mara directly after the storming of the Fiji Parliament and the gunpoint seizure of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and seven cabinet ministers.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff urged the military to stand behind their President in his efforts to remove the band of low-level politicians claiming to hold power. But he stopped short of calling for the military to use force.

Helen Clark, who was in Whangarei last night, received hourly updates from officials in Wellington who were in constant contact with the New Zealand High Commission in Suva.

Initial indications from the commission's diplomats and other official sources were that support for the coup was not widespread.

But questions hang over the passive behaviour of the Fiji military, who had stayed in their barracks despite the illegal detainment of the country's Prime Minister.

Reports reaching Wellington last night indicated that former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who led the two coups in 1987, negotiated with the gunmen. He was accompanied by senior Army and police officials, an indication the attack lacked obvious military backing.

It was unclear whether Helen Clark would offer military help, although Mr Goff said earlier that there were no plans to deploy any military personnel "at this point."

Two New Zealand frigates, Te Kaha and Canterbury, and the tanker Endeavour are in the South Pacific on their way to exercises in Southeast Asia and are three days away from Fiji.

At this stage, there is no intention of evacuating the 400 New Zealanders who live in Fiji or tourists, most of whom are in resorts outside Suva.

They have been advised to remain calm and be cautious and keep in touch with the High Commission.

New Zealanders here have been told to defer all non-essential travel to Fiji.

The Government has contingency plans and is ready to deploy Air Force Hercules if necessary. Senior defence officials attended a briefing in Mr Goff's Beehive office yesterday afternoon.

Condemning the coup as unconstitutional and illegal, Mr Goff said the President did not appear to be under any threat, despite claims from the coup leader that he had been removed.

In Australia, Prime Minister John Howard said he was horrified at the coup and called for a peaceful resolution. The Opposition foreign affairs spokesman, Laurie Brereton, urged the Government to warn Fiji of international and economic isolation.

With no Australians believed to be at risk and the Fiji Army backing the elected Government - according to reports received in Canberra last night - the Foreign Affairs Department said it was monitoring events carefully.

Mr Howard said he had been advised by Australian officials in Suva that the police and the armed forces continued to support the Chaudhry Government.

The department said it had warned Australians in Fiji to stay at home or in hotels, and stay clear of Parliament House.

Late yesterday, Australia's two big airlines, Qantas and Ansett, had not made any decision on the suspension of flights to Suva, although Ansett was giving passengers the choice to suspend their travel, a full refund, or an alternative destination.

The New Zealand High Commission in Suva reported this month that tensions had reached a crossroads, but it had not expected a bid to overthrow the Government, which took office exactly a year ago.

Mr Goff warned Fiji that it would suffer serious political, social and economic costs if the hostage-takers established an illegal interim government. He refused to be specific, although his words seemed to leave open the possibility of sanctions.

With Canberra, he had already made contact with Pacific Forum countries and was planning calls to British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon.

Mr Howard, who is in Korea on a state visit, said the coup attempt was of immense concern.

"I am horrified that such an act should be carried out against a democratically elected leader, a fellow Commonwealth Prime Minister, a person who was a guest in our country only a matter of a few weeks ago," he said.

"I share the anxiety of many about the situation and I hope it can be peacefully resolved without any loss of life or injury."

Mr Brereton condemned the coup as a blow to Fijian democracy which could not be allowed to succeed.

"Australia must make it clear that a repeat of the 1987 coup will inevitably result in Fiji's international isolation and expulsion from the Commonwealth, and spell disaster for Fiji's economy."