Oppn threatens civil war in Fiji

But Speight had sent him an indirect message “that if I didn’t follow what he says…He will start executing hostages one by one,” Mara told the nation in a televised address. “When I asked what does he really want, I was told that he wants me to step down and allow his group to run the country,” Mara added. “To that extent I will not be able to comply.”

Coup leader George Speight later rejected claims that shots had been fired or that they intended to kill the hostages. “At no time was there any threat of violence let alone a threat to kill the people in our care.” The rejection was made in a statement which carried the letterhead “The Taukei Civilian Government.”

A coalition of nationalist parties backed Speight today, calling Chaudhry an “insensitive and power-hungry immigrant Indian Prime Minister”.

But the President, the police and the military have all supported the government and Fiji’s trade unions have called a national strike tomorrow in support of Chaudhry.

They supported the coup bid, saying they are prepared for “civil war.” They called on President Mara to resign and stop resisting the coup, which has resulted in a tense three-day standoff between the gunmen and security forces. “Ratu Mara has lost touch with the Fijian people and we call on him to resign with immediate effect. His present and current course of action could lead to civil war,” an Opposition statement said.

The President today said members of a special forces unit of the Fijian military are backing the attempted coup. Mara said that members of a special “counter revolutionary warfare unit” were involved in the bid to seize power.

Prime Minister Chaudhry has refused to yield to Speight and his gunmen in the besieged Parliament after some of his Cabinet colleagues were forced to resign at gunpoint. Some 10 MPs and about 20 Parliamentary staff were released early Sunday morning and Government negotiators were seen leaving the legislative complex.

But after three days the armed gang’s attempted coup had turned into a tense stalemate with the security forces holding fast in their loyalty to the elected government. Police and troops had set up roadblocks around the parliamentary complex which the gunmen, led by a local businessman, stormed on Friday in a bid to overthrow Chaudhry’s year-old administration.

Some of the 10 MPs who were released from captivity said the gunmen had demanded resignations in exchange for their freedom. Associate Minister of Information Lekh Ram Veyeshni was freed at around 3 am and later told AFP that coup leader George Speight held a “machine gun” to his head and made him sign his resignation. “If not, pointing the gun at me, he said `That’s it, I’m going to shoot you’,” Veyeshni said.

Fiji Red Cross Chief John Scott, who was allowed into the Parliament building, said Chaudhry is mentally “fine.” He said the Prime Minister was talking and did not appear to have been beaten or sedated. Deputy Police Commissioner Jahir Kahn said earlier that four coup conspirators had beaten up the Prime Minister on Saturday. Other doctors who visited the captives said Chaudhry was suffering from “exhaustion” and appeared to have collapsed from fatigue.