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Who will be PM?
to take Fiji to election
Thursday March 15, 2001
Who will be
prime minister after the President-elect Ratu Josefa Iloilo is
sworn in as the new President later today?
That is the question foremost in the minds of most people in Fiji
following the unexpected appointment of Ratu Tevita Momoedonu as
the country's sixth Prime Minister since the events of May 19
last year.
In an unexpected move yesterday, Ratu Iloilo dismissed legal
incumbent Mahendra Chaudhry effective yesterday and appointed
Ratu Tevita in his place.
Ratu Tevita was sworn in as prime minister yesterday at 3.00pm.
While Ratu Iloilo's action may have raised some eyebrows, it can
also be viewed as a technical move purely aimed at legitimising
his own appointment as Fiji's third President.
For Ratu Iloilo's appointment to conform with the 1997
Constitution, the concurrence of the prime minister is required.
Because of the leadership struggle within the Coalition
government, Ratu Iloilo believed that neither Mr Chaudhry nor Dr
Tupeni Baba enjoyed majority support in parliament.
The best alternative in his own deliberate judgement was Ratu
Tevita.
Permanent secretary in the President's Office Jeremaia Waqanisau
confirmed Ratu Iloilo had accepted Interim Prime Minister
Laisenia Qarase's resignation before swearing in Ratu Tevita.
While there are legal issues involved, Ratu Iloilo's surprise
move will open up a completely new local political landscape as
he tries to propel the country forward.
There are a lot of likely scenarios.
But the most interesting and likely course is that Ratu Iloilo
will dissolve parliament as soon as he is sworn-in today.
According to some the dissolution of parliament would also remove
Ratu Tevita as prime minister.
Who will then lead the caretaker government?
If Ratu Iloilo is to be guided by the Great Council of Chiefs
decision then expect Mr Qarase to be re-appointed as caretaker
prime minister soon.
What of the others, Mr Chaudhry, Dr Baba and Ratu Tevita?
But again, that is Ratu Iloilo's prerogative.
Well, The Ides of March is at hand.
Fiji's Daily Post
Momoedonu cautions
Chaudhry
Thursday March 15, 2001
Momoedonu cautions Chaudhry Deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has been cautioned to keep from causing trouble in Fiji.
The warning came from Ratu Tevita Momoedomu who was sworn in as Prime Minister of Fiji by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo yesterday.
Momoedomu said he was unaware of backlash from Coalition members and there is still a chance that members of the People's Coalition could be included in the caretaker government.
Momoedonu who is a Labor parliamentarian, is expected to resign from his position as Prime Minister today and advice the president to dissolve parliament.
Iloilo is expected to name a caretaker government to take Fiji into the next elections.
Rt Iloilo to name
Care-taker govt
Thursday March 15, 2001
Acting President Ratu Josefa Iloilo will appoint a new caretaker government this afternoon after he named Interim Labour Minister Ratu Tevita Momoedonu as the new prime minister yesterday.
And the prime minister-elect said he would be willing to step aside tomorrow to allow the country grope its way towards parliamentary democracy.
Ratu Iloilo will be sworn-in as President today by Chief Justice Sir Timoci Tuivaga.
Ratu Tevita confirmed his appointment yesterday saying he took the oath at the Presidential Bure at Tavakubu at around 3pm.
Ratu Iloilo had earlier in the day written to democratically elected prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
The President said he had the constitutional rights to appoint anyone from Cabinet as prime minister and that Mr Chaudhry had been dismissed.
Political commentators say the appointment of the prime minister is a legal formality before the swearing in of a new President.
Ratu Tevita said the Interim Administration has been told the next logical step was for them to resign as soon as possible.
He said it was now his main task as prime minister to see the country return to normalcy to get things stabilised.
Ratu Tevita said it would be both disastrous and dangerous to have the same team running government.
"There has been a lot of fighting amongst them. I will think I will advise Ratu Iloilo to dissolve parliament and go back to the people to get a new slate of MPs who can move the country forward.
"I don't seem to have faith in the old government and so my view on the matter is to advise the President to dissolve parliament and go for fresh elections," he said.
Ratu Tevita said as interim minister for Labour he too would tender his resignation today.
"A caretaker government will be appointed to lead the country to the next election that will be held sometimes in August," he said.
The writ of elections is expected to be given to the President sometimes in July before the general elections.
Ratu Tevita attended Nokonoko Primary School, Queen Victoria School, Ratu Kadavulevu School and Natabua High School in Lautoka.
Fiji's Daily Post
Chaudhry sacked
Wednesday March 14, 2001
7.55 pm
Mahendra Chaudhry was today sacked as Prime Minister just hours before Ratu Tevita Momoedonu was appointed to the job.
The acting President Ratu Josefa Iloilo told Chaudhry in a letter that he had been dismissed because by advising Iloilo to dissolve Parliament last week, he had accepted that he no longer had the mandate of Parliament.
Chaudhry urged Iloilo to reconsider his decision and labeled the move unconstitutional and unlawful.
"The purported appointment of Ratu Tevita Momoedonu as Prime Minister is unconstitutional and unlawful because firstly, I have not vacated the office of Prime Minister. Secondly, Ratu Tevita has not been nominated by the People’s Coalition nor has his entitlement to the position been tested on the floor of the House of Representatives."
"It is clear the decision is premised on incorrect assumptions, deliberate or otherwise, that I had accepted I no longer enjoyed the confidence of the House because I had offered to advise him to dissolve the House of Representatives so as to make way for fresh elections to resolve the political impasse facing the nation."
Chaudhry said he was told he was being dismissed under Section 109 (1) of the Constitution. This was confirmed later by Momoedonu.
He said Iloilo had written: "Therefore, acting in my own judgment under Section 109(1) of the 1997 Constitution … I hereby notify you that I have decided to dismiss you from your appointment as Prime Minister of Fiji with effect from 14 March, 2001".
Chaudhry said his lawyers had advised him that the acting President’s decision is badly advised and unlawful.
"It is correct I had conveyed to His Excellency that I was prepared to advise a dissolution of Parliament. I had done this in order to assist him find a way out of the constitutional difficulties confronting him. My offer of assistance was made in good faith and with a view to helping him find a solution to the nation’s problems which was within the law."
"But it takes a considerable leap of logic for the Acting President to now conclude that this advice means I do not believe I have the confidence of the House of Representatives. The best way to ascertain this is to summon the House of Representatives. Why is it that those who advise the acting President are unwilling to consider testing this option on the floor of the House?"
"I had not advised the acting President that I had lost the confidence of the House of Representatives."
"The necessary conditions under which the Acting President may act under simply do not exist. I am frankly astounded that his advisers believe otherwise."
Momoedonu PM for a day
(again?)
Wednesday March 14, 2001
7.55 pm
Ratu Tevita Momoedonu might again be Prime Minister of Fiji for one day.
Momoedonu is expected to be the PM the 1997 Constitution requires to be consulted before a President is appointed.
After the President's swearing-in, he is expected to ask Iloilo to dissolve Parliament and tender his resignation, allowing Iloilo then to appoint a caretaker government to take Fiji to polls now expected in August.
Momoedonu told the media this was the only way forward for Fiji
He said it was the President's prerogative whether he was then reappointed caretaker government PM.
Interview with PM
Momoedonu
Wednesday March 14, 2001
Radio Fiji interview with, newly appointed Prime Minister Ratu Tevita Momoedonu:
Q: Whose choice was it to appoint you as Prime Minister?
A: The choice was entirely the president’s prerogative because that is within the constitution, he has the constitutional right to dismiss the prime minister of the day and he also has the right to appoint anyone from the cabinet to the post of prime minister.
Q: Is there a likelihood of you resigning from the post of Prime Minister after the swearing in tomorrow?
A: My task really is to try and facilitate the normalising of the running of this country and if I’m required to resign again tomorrow so that we have the clear path to appointment another caretaker government, that’s it. I will facilitate it.
Q: Your appointment specifically stated that your posting at the moment is of caretaker prime minister which means that you will be leading a caretaker government , so why should you resign tomorrow?
A: That is covered in the constitution, I must reiterate that it is the prerogative of the President. He can appoint a caretaker government today and dismiss it again tomorrow. That is within his rights and prerogative under the Constitution (1997 Constitution).
Q: What about the interim administration that is running the country at the moment?
A: Well now that I have been appointed as prime minister, the very logical thing for them to do now is to tender their resignation as soon as possible, and I think that will come about tomorrow.
Q: The parliament from the last elected government is still valid up until now, when is the likelihood of them being dismissed from office?
A: Now that I’ve been appointed the Prime Minister, one of the tasks that I would like to see is to send this country back to normal. To have the same team running the country, I think that is most disastrous and dangerous for this nation because there has been a lot of fighting amongst them and I think I will advise the president tomorrow to dissolve parliament and go back to the people to get a new team a new slate of parliamentarians who can move this country forward. I don’t seem to have faith in the old government because it has been and it will continue with the fighting and all this. My view in the matter is to advise the president to dissolve parliament and go for fresh elections sometimes in August.
Q: Will you be tendering your resignation soon as interim minister for labor?
A: That I think I will have to do. Tender my resignation soon.
Q: How long will the caretaker government go on for if you were to lead it?
A: Right now I cannot say that I will be appointed prime minister again within the caretaker government to lead this country into the next general elections. One thing I can say is that the general elections may have to be held sometimes in August, so the weight of elections may be given to the president sometimes in July before the elections take place in August.
Momoedonu is new PM
Wednesday March 14, 2001
Ratu Tevita Momoedonu has been sworn in as Fiji’s new prime minister.
He was sworn in by the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo at Lautoka today.
Ratu Iloilo, who will be sworn in as president for another term tomorrow, will appoint a caretaker government.
Officials from the information ministry declined to confirm or deny the statement saying a press release to clarify this would be issued later today.
Momoedonu is currently the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations in the interim government.
He was also prime minister for a day during last year’s political crisis and is a member of the Fiji Labour Party.
He hails from Ba province and is believed to be close to the president Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
Wednesday 14 March 1:28 PM
A transsexual today won a landmark decision when a Victorian tribunal said she had been fired because of her change of sex.
In what was believed to be Victoria's first transgender discrimination case, Sharon Menzies, formerly Ronald Menzies, had sought more than $400,000 compensation from AstroVac (Australia) Pty Ltd.
The company sacked her in May 1998, weeks after her sex-change operation, but denied its decision was related to the gender issue, arguing she was incompetent.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) today handed down its decision, agreeing that Ms Menzies had been sacked because she was a transsexual.
VCAT senior member Greg Lyons said AstroVac's managing director Richard Waycott had contravened the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 by sacking Ms Menzies.
"Mr Waycott decided to terminate Ms Menzies's employment without according her basic fairness and he took this course because of Ms Menzies's transsexualism," Dr Lyons said in his judgment.
Dr Lyons did not make any orders for compensation, saying he would deal with that issue at a later date.
Another factory stops production
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - March 13 2001
Another garment factory based in Lautoka has ceased production.
The DVH Garments Ltd, employing about 400 workers, stopped production last week. It told its workers that it was shutting down production until it got new orders.
It is understood that the company had its orders cancelled because of the instability in the country. The company is a joint venture between a foreign investor and a local investor.
Another major factory, employing hundreds of workers is also in trouble now. The factory was awaiting a satisfactory resolution of the constitutional crisis.
But the impasse, where the Chiefs themselves defied the Constitution, and the failure of the President to make a lawful decision has created further uncertainty in the industry. One industry spokesman stated that with the President being advised to use his reserve powers, the industry has been thrown into greater turbulence. "He said: "What reserve powers are being referred to? There is no reserve power for the President under the law. It just creates further loss of confidence in the country".
The reference to reserve powers was to the reported advise to the President that he has some reserve powers which he can utilise to go around the 1997 Constitution and maintain the Qarase regime in power.
Unionist threatened by businessman
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - March 13 2001
The General Secretary of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, Felix Anthony has been threatened by a businessman.
In a letter to the editor published in the Fiji Times today, Keith Treffers, who apparently is in the business of importing food products into Fiji, condemns Anthony for supporting trade bans after the terrorist activities in Fiji last year. He also blames the FTUC for the closure of garment factories in Fiji.
Treffers further writes: "Had this problem incurred (sic) in some South American country we would all know what would have happened to Anthony and his mob". The reference apparently is to assassination of the unionists, which was widespread in Latin American dictatorships during the past few decades.
That Fiji has businessmen of the nature of Treffers itself speaks volumes on the type of investors which the country has attracted over the past two decades.
It has become the norm for many businessmen to make their money through massive exploitation of workers in the country. With many garment factories closing down now, existing businesses, including many ethnic Indian businesses, have begun to pay wages much below the established minimum wages. Thousands of workers have had their wages reduced by upto 50%. Reports of wages being $1/hour without any payment for the provident fund have been made. Many factories are now deducting wages from workers for payment to the provident fund, but workers find that no payments are being made. The regime's Labour Department has remained compliant to the dictates of the businessmen.
Confusion surrounds Chiefs decisions
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - March 14 2001
Much confusion still surrounds the decisions which the Great Council of Chiefs made yesterday.
The resolutions have not been made public.
But Council Secretary Ratu Epeli Ganilau told the media that the Chiefs decided to appoint Ratu Josefa Iloilo to the post of President and Ratu Jope Seniloli as Vice President. He also told the media that the chiefs left the Council accepted the Fiji Court of Appeal decision, but left the implementation of it to the President. Ratu Epeli stated: "The GCC is unanimous in its support for the President. As such it will also be unanimous in its support for whatever path that His Excellency chooses to take Fiji forward".
The media
has been speculating on the deliberations and the decisions. One
media outlet, claiming to have in its exclusive possession the
resolutions of the meeting stated that the chiefs had decided to
accept the Appeal decision in its entirety. Another media outlet
claimed that the chiefs decided to ask the President to let
Qarase and his team continue in their positions. Yet a third
outlet published what it called the 6 resolutions of the meeting.
These were:
· the 1997 Constitution is still the supreme law of Fiji
· Ratu Josefa Iloilo be appointed President and Ratu Jope
Naucubalavu Seniloli as Vice-President effective 1`5 March
· The Chiefs accept that the President has reserve powers which
can be used at certain times. The powers can be used in the
present political climate;
· The council proposes that Parliament be dissolved and
elections held at the earliest possible time if the president
deems fit;
· The President appoint the interim administration to continue
as a caretaker government if he decides to dissolve; and
· That the interim administration's blueprint be maintained and
the Constitutional Review Commission to continue its work.
The GCC spokesman told the media yesterday evening that it was impolite within the ethnic Fijian protocol for the resolutions to be released before the President is informed of it.
Today’s Fiji Times, while endorsing the decision of the Chiefs to uphold the 1997 Constitution, made a scathing attack of the chiefs. It stated that the GCC has no powers to make law or to abrogate the Constitution. Calling some chiefs “feudal relics who sincerely believe that they are born to rule and that their word should be all the law the nation needs”, the newspaper called upon the President to decide according to the Constitution.
Chiefs defy Constitution; appoint President
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - March 14 2001
Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs defied the 1997 Constitution and decided to appoint a President without consulting the Prime Minister.
The Fiji Court of Appeal had decided this month that the 1997 Constitution remains the supreme law of the country.
According to the 1997 Constitution The Great Council of Chiefs appoints the President but after consultation with the Prime Minister (c90).
But in making their decision yesterday, neither did the Chiefs meeting invite the Prime Minister nor did their Council consult him.
It even ignored the advice of former High Court judge and high chief Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi that the Prime Minister be consulted for the appointment. Today's Fiji Sun states that this was "an unfortunate oversight for [the President's] 750,000 plus Fiji Islanders".
Regime continues to hold office; slams Punja
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - March 13 2001
The Qarase regime has continued to hold office despite the Fiji Court of Appeal declaring it illegal.
Last week a statement from the regime stated that the Acting President had asked the regime to continue to hold office. The President's Office has not confirmed this, but the Great Council of Chiefs, which appoints the President, did not invite Laisenia Qarase to its meeting as the Prime Minister.
The Chiefs meet today to appoint a substantive President. In its last meeting, the Chiefs had appointed Ratu Josefa Iloilo as an "Interim President". The Court declared that Ratu Josefa is only an Acting President from 15 December 2000. Under law, this acting position lapses on 15 March.
Meanwhile, the regime's Commerce as well as Public Enterprise ministers have lashed out at a company owned by business tycoon Hari Punja for pressurising the state into giving it licenses.
Today's Fiji Times quotes Punja as saying: "The talks for off-loading the cargo seem to be going around in circles and we cannot to anything but pay up". Punja's company, Flour Mills of Fiji Ltd, imported 2,400 tonnes of rice from Australia without an import license. Regime's Commerce Minister Tomasi Vuetilovoni reportedly informed the Public Enterprise Minister Hector Hatch that this was the second time the company was trying to "get away with this type of tactics". Hatch is reported to have said that he was following procedures and that no rice could be landed without the licence.
Hari Punja is a leading businessman in Fiji of ethnic Indian origin. Punja has been close to most governments in power. His overtures towards the People's Coalition Government were not as successful. The People's Coalition Government had introduced policies which were transparent and were creating an even playing field in the country. This irritated Punja who took all opportunities to condemn the government.
Factory closures looms, garment industry may collapse
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - March 13 2001
One wrong move from the regime and the garment industry will collapse within 6 months, says the President of the Fiji-Australia Business Council Mark Halabe.
The Fiji media carried Halabe's comments widely during the past few days. Halabe says that if the President and the Council of Chiefs decided against the 1997 Constitution, "there will be no [garment] industry left within 6 months. There is already international pressure and this time around any sanctions imposed on Fiji would be very severe".
Already 4 factories have closed within the past 2 weeks.
A fifth factory, employing hundreds of workers, may be closing within the next two weeks.
Factory closures so far are due to the expiry of the tax free schemes which were introduced 13 years ago, cancellation of orders from Fiji on account of political instability, and cheaper labour sources in countries like China and Vietnam.
Meanwhile the Fiji Trades Union Congress has condemned the Fiji Times for saying that the closures were due to the FTUC's call for trade bans. In a letter to the Times, the FTUC has stated that the newspaper should blame those responsible for the mess which Fiji is in now and not the FTUC.
Commonwealth wants 1997 Constitution
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - March 13 2001
The Commonwealth of Nations has stated that it wants the nation to find its solution within the provisions of the 1997 Constitution.
This is the message brought to Fiji by the Commonwealth Secretary General's Special Envoy to Fiji, Justice Pius Langa. Justice Lange arrived in the country for the third time last week.
Justice Langa has warned Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs that that the country faces dreadful repercussions if it doesn't follow the court of appeal ruling. The Chiefs meet today to consider a report from the Acting President on the ways forward for Fiji. The Chiefs have also been advised by some ethnic Fijian lawyers who say that the Chiefs should reject the court decision and allow an unelected regime to continue with discriminatory policies.
According to reports, Justice Langa, says he's worried that the chiefs may be considering rejecting the court of appeal's finding. But he says that it's crucial that bodies such as the Great Council of Chiefs look beyond their own interests and focus on the interests of Fiji. In a media statement yesterday, he stated that the only way forward following the Court of Appeal ruling, is to follow the 1997 Constitution.
"To do
otherwise", he stated, "would be to seriously undermine
the rule of law and it would constitute an extremely negative
precedent for the future of constitutional democracy in the
country. It is unthinkable, for instance, that the president
could knowingly sanction unconstitutional behaviour. The
repercussions would be too
serious, too traumatic, both inside Fiji and
internationally."
He further
stated:
"Stability would be threatened and an opportunity to begin
the process of fostering a constitutional ethic within the
country will have been lost. Instead the constitution would
evermore be seen as a document, capable of being disregarded with
impunity."
"Looking at the very next step to be taken, it seems to me that the Great Council of Chiefs needs to unambiguously advise the President to exercise only those options that are consistent with the 1997constitution."
Well, I would hope that the debate will shift from options that are not constitutional and in that regard it would be quite proper for the president, for instance, to seek legal advice with regards to only those options which are constitutional, which are legal. Those which are outside the constitution should simply be scrapped.
In an ABC radio interview with reporter Sean Dorney who asked Justice Langa about a fresh election, he stated: "The options which the president must follow I leave to him, for the president to look at and that's why I've put to him that if he so wishes, he could put together a task team of legal people who would advise and demarcate what is constitutional and what is not constitutional."
"I'm not here in the capacity of legal adviser and I would not want to put myself in that invidious position. It would be invidious for me to do that. But the principled selection of what is constitutional is the sort of commitment that I'm looking for."
The Council of Chiefs reconvenes today.
Man in police custody for
rape attempt and assault
Sunday, March 11,
2001
A man is being held in police custody in Labasa after he attempted to rape a woman in Bulileka and then later assaulted a second woman who ended up with a fractured skull.
The man who pretended to be a Hindu priest went from house to house to ask for money. According to Superintendent Matakibau, the Divisional Police Commander Northern, the man went to the house in Bulileka where he was offered refreshments by the woman and when she turned her back he tried to rape her. The woman struggled and the man later ran off.
The offender also hit another woman on the head with an iron rod when she was on her way home on Friday evening. She was rescued by her neighbours and later rushed to the hospital.
(Fiji Times, 11-03-01)
Monday March 12 4:05 AM ET
Protests Rock Jakarta, Govt Warns of Collapse
By Achmad Sukarsono
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's chief security minister warned the country was on the brink of collapse as thousands of pro and anti-government protesters flooded the streets of Jakarta on Monday.
But embattled President Abdurrahman refused to resign, saying if he did the giant archipelago would fall apart.
Instead, he told his popular vice-president -- widely seen as itching to replace him -- to take a more active role in running the country.
Wahid was speaking to reporters at the back of the presidential palace compound in central Jakarta not at the usual front where thousands of protesters had gathered, some hurling rocks at each other.
Several people suffered minor injuries, but there were no reports of all-out clashes or other trouble amid tight security.
Earlier, the leading Kompas daily quoted chief security minister and retired general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as warning of the country descending into chaos.
``Without ... stability, law and security, our country will become a sea of mayhem, violence and worry,'' he said.
``This uncertainty will have a severe impact, not only on the political front but also in our economic, social and security fields,'' the Jakarta Post newspaper quoted him as saying.
Yudhoyono said last month's parliamentary censure of Wahid over his role in two graft scandals -- which could trigger his impeachment -- was not only a blow to the Muslim cleric but the entire government.
Wahid Says He Won'T Go
Wahid, as usual, stood firm: ``I don't want to resign. I want to maintain this country's integrity.
``In the cabinet meeting, I have ordered Vice-President Megawati (Sukarnoputri) to be proactive in running this government.''
Megawati has long come under criticism for not taking any active role in government despite heading the country's largest political party.
And in recent weeks, her supporters and erstwhile political enemies have been rallying to her side to push her to replace the frail Wahid, whose erratic 16-month rule is in a state of crisis.
Financial Markets Battered
The political instability and relentless communal violence have rocked financial markets, driving the rupiah through 11,000 against the dollar, its weakest in more than two years. It later recovered slightly and at 0815 GMT was around 10,400.
The stock market has also hit a two-year low, falling below the psychologically important 400 point mark. By 0815 GMT, the main index had fallen 4.75 percent to 394.434 points.
Monday's protests are the latest in a series attacking Wahid's failure to drag the country out of economic despair and quell communal bloodshed that has killed thousands.
Witnesses said about 5,000 students rallied to demand the ouster of Wahid. Most massed near the presidential palace.
Nearby, more than 500 Wahid supporters burned effigies of the president's main political enemies, including parliamentary speaker Akbar Tandjung and the head of the top legislature Amien Rais. Both men are former Wahid allies.
In the mid-afternoon, Rais drove with a busload of supporters to join the anti-Wahid protesters.
Parliament censured Wahid in February over his role in two graft scandals, a rebuke that could lead to impeachment.
He must reply the censure by May. If parliament is unhappy with the reply, it can censure him again and set in motion the procedure to impeach him.
Former Wahid allies, including Muslim parties, have turned into his most lethal foes. Few now expect Wahid to serve out his term to 2004.
Fuel Price Hike
The anti-Wahid protesters, who said they planned to occupy the presidential palace for a day, also demanded the government drop a 20 percent fuel price hike planned for April.
``Gus Dur has made the people suffer too long. He will only make us suffer more with this plan,'' student leader Khairil Adha from the Muslim Student Action Front told Reuters, using Wahid's nickname.
But the protesters have so far made no attempt to break into the palace grounds, guarded by more than 2,500 riot police.
The cabinet is meeting next door to decide details of the fuel price hike, which may be implemented in stages to ease the impact.
Violence in the rebellious far-western province of Aceh is also adding to the problems racking Indonesia -- forcing the closure of key gas and oil operations at the weekend.
Wahid named four provinces that he said would declare independence if he was pushed from office -- Aceh, Irian Jaya, Riau and Madura.
Suicide reality or myth
Wednesday March 14, 2001
In 1997 a 10-year-old hanged herself after an argument with her brother.
Picture a 10-year-old, presumably four feet in height, at the dawn of life and coming to terms with formal education at primary school, and at the age adults often assume their knowledge is insignificant about the issues of life.
How in the world did she even begin to contemplate suicide as the only way out of her grievances?. It's just unbelievable, that a tiny, innocent creature would resort to such act.
What happened to family bonds, sharing, and parents realising that their children are going through hard times? And it's not as if there is no help out there.
The Education Department implemented a policy which distributes counsellors to schools, there is the Social Welfare Department and a number of qualified psychologists around the country.
However, on the issue of suicide, there is the need to refer to society in terms of gender socialisation.
A sociological study proved that females are socialised to be responsible, dependant, while males are to be aggressive, independent.
Has this socialisation process which begins at childhood created vulnerable women who in turn become easy target to male violence?
Perhaps the little girl (may she rest in peace) felt responsible for the argument.
In fact we are never lucky to fully suss out, what drives a person to leave this life besides the natural calling.
In a recent police report, it shows how suicide is escalating to top the list of death causes, or that it is creating a bigger number of victims compared to other causes.
But the police have always stressed the importance, for troubled families or individuals to seek help.
Depression is the identified cause of suicide.
It is a painful emotion that either derives one of or the combination of factors ranging from parental ignorance, peer pressure, academic failure or even romantic affairs.
Nevertheless, psychological studies show those prone to depression are the ones with low self esteem or low self confidence. Presumably, they lack the courage to face problems.
They'd rather prefer to escape, by taking their own lives.
However, not all of the low self esteem and low self confidence personalities are suicide victims.
Others do come out with their problems and find ways to handle and sort it out, most likely because their parents have taught and prepared them how to deal with stress.
But of course the world is changing, it is an inevitable process, and youths today are very much dissimilar to the youths of yesterday. There is much more pressure to deal with in these modern days.
Technology and its effect was nothing our grandparents were exposed to in their days.
Fiji's Daily Post
Presidential decision
Wednesday March 14, 2001
The Great of Chiefs yesterday said it was up to the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo to decide which was the best way to take Fiji forward.
GCC chairman Ratu Epeli Ganilau said the GCC will be unanimous in its support for Ratu Iloilo's decision.
The GCC meeting concluded last night after three full days of meeting at the military barracks in Nabua under the close watch of the international community.
Ratu Epeli said the individual members of the council have expressed their support for the Interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his Interim Administration.
"However the choice of a caretaker Government, should His excellency deem it necessary, will entirely be his perogative," Ratu Epeli said.
"The GCC having now endorsed the President has conferred on Ratu Iloilo its trust that he will exercise his powers for the benefit of the nation," Ratu Epeli said.
He said the GCC has noted the proposal by deposed prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry to dissolve parliament but has left it to the President to make the final decision.
Ratu Epeli told the media the GCC did not consider the legal opinion and options submitted by Fijian lawyers Rabo Matebalevu and Qoriniasi Bale.
Mr Matebalavu had reportedly asked in his submissions that George Speight and his group be granted amnesty for their involvement in the attempted coup.
Fiji's Daily Post
Follow the law
Wednesday March 14, 2001
The Great Council of Chiefs yesterday agreed through consensus that the Laisenia Qarase led Administration continue with governing the country forward.
And that the work of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) be allowed to continue.
The various provinces and confederacies presented their options to the President via the GCC saying the law must be upheld and but at the same time Fijian interests and aspirations be protected at all times.
Most options forwarded at yesterdays meeting generally reflected what is perceived to safeguard indigenous aspirations and interests and at the same time allay Fijian fears regarding their political status.
The views aired yesterday also admitted there was no way forward without abiding to a certain extent the rule of law. However, they agreed to give the President a free hand in deciding which option he chooses to take Fiji back to democracy.
Some of the options and suggestions presented by the different provinces and confederacies were: The Kubuna Confederacy said it wanted the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo to use his reserve powers to ensure the Interim Administration remained in power.
It also wanted the 1997 Constitution reviewed by the CRC and that elections be held by the year 2002. Kubuna with the express backing of the Provinces of Bua, Cakaudrove and Macuata called for Fijians to support the Interim Administration's blueprint.
The Burebasaga Confederacy lent its support to the Interim Administration and the BLV Secretariat in their supporting the Court of Appeal decision on the validity of the 1997 Constitution.
At the same time it called for the dissolution of parliament to allow the Interim Administration to continue as a care-taker Government to prepare for fresh national elections until we have parliament and an elected government.
The Province of Lau also believed that the Court of Appeal decision should be upheld and pledged its support to the Military Forces. The Lau delegation said it was best that the Interim Administration be allowed to take us to the next general elections.
Rotuma wanted the law to be upheld but that it be guided by BLV's decision.
Ba Province said they supported moves ensuring law and order but stressed Fijian rights and interests must be protected. The Province of Kadavu said it remained firm in its view that the 1997 Constitution was no more.
They said its resurrection, the failure to implement the Blueprint and the slowness of reverting Crown lands to native ownership would rest uneasily with some sections of the indigenous community.
Fiji's Daily Post
Garment workers receive
wages
Wednesday March 14, 2001
Faridul Nisha was all smiles yesterday after she was paid her outstanding wages to her by Trident Garment in Lautoka.
She was among 135 workers of Trident Garments who lost their jobs after the factory was shut-down a month ago. Their outstanding wages were paid to them by the Labour Department after it stepped in the dispute.
The department had earlier seized one company vehicle with a court order but this was released later after the department was given $12,000 to pay the 135 workers.
Although the pay packet brought partial relief to Ms Nisha, losing her job at the factory was nevertheless heartbreaking. She is the sole breadwinner in her family and she also pays rent.
Her son, a casual employee at a garment factory, is also out of work now so no one is financially supporting the family. Yesterday she received only $55 which she'll use to buy essential groceries and pay half of their rent.
"For the past eight years I have been working at Trident Garment as a machinist and got a shock when operations ceased at the factory," Ms Nisha said.
"I have asked at a number of places after Trident Garments closed down but it is really hard finding jobs these days. "I often get sick and now that I've lost my job only God knows what will happen to us next."
She plans to withdraw funds from the Fiji National Provident Fund to enable her to sustain her family.
Fiji's Daily Post
Economic gap the problem: Bune
By Avinesh Gopal
March 11 2001 - Fiji Times
DEPOSED agriculture minister Poseci Bune believes the country's problem is economic. "It is the economic gap between the haves and the have-nots which is the real cause of the problems,'' he said.
"I think leadership is the symptom of the problem we have and unless we address that, we can not unite our people.'' Mr Bune said he did not believe the 1997 Constitution was causing the problems in the country. He aired similar views at a political leaders' forum at the Warwick Hotel on the Coral Coast.
The forum organised by the East-West Centre in Hawaii is being held to discuss ways of uniting people of Fiji and taking the country forward.
Mr Bune said participants at the discussions blamed the 1997 Constitution for causing the problems.
"But, I don't believe this and from my own observation I think we are flogging the wrong horse,'' he said. "I believe the problem we have in Fiji is an economic one.'' Mr Bune believes the present administration structure, inherited during the colonial era, is now totally inadequate to respond to the aspirations of people of all races in the rural areas.
"There are two levels of (discussion) -one is visible where top to bottom kind of information is provided, while the other is through the exchange of views by going to the grassroots,'' he said. "Unfortunately, the system we inherited from the British is just that top to bottom kind.
"We see now from the Great Council of Chiefs' decisions are passed down to the provincial councils, to the district councils and then to village level. "No questions are asked and they all say this is the decision of our chiefs and everybody just simply has to carry that out. "I believe this is one of the shortcomings of the present system that we have.''
Mr Bune believes there is a need to create more power centres to see that everyone engages in a participatory government. "Now we should start devolving power down to the people and perhaps to start off with we could create self-autonomous provincial administrations so they localise the problem. Instead of looking to Parliament as the only place to exercise power, I think people will tend to focus on their own provincial politics and address the problems at provincial level,'' he said.
"If we do that and bring economic benefits to the people in rural areas and when they have three decent meals, they don't really care who leads the country or really care about the Constitution. "People who are having only one meal in the villages are not blaming the Constitution but are blaming the leaders because they are not seeing the benefits of development.''
Mr Bune said if the grassroots people were empowered, "then no one really bothers who governs the country, whether it is an Indian or any other race''. "I think that when everybody has a full stomach, then everybody is happy,'' he said. "I believe the Constitution is okay but what is not okay is the administrative system - an outdated British system that we need to look at.''
Garments lose market
By Riejeli Kikau
March 11 2001 - Fiji Times
THE garment industry has lost more than 40 per cent of its market to more competitive factories overseas which hire cheaper labour.
Textile, Clothing and Textile president Ramesh Solanki stressed that jobs have been lost to China, Indonesia and Vietnam because of political instability and trade bans in Fiji.
"Anyone can start a garment factory, if they feel they have sufficient orders on hand and can produce quality garments but it is not as easy as it looks,'' Mr Solanki said. He was reacting to the closure of two factories where workers suddenly found themselves without jobs when they arrived at their factories.
The veteran garment industry investor added it was unethical for any employer to close down business without warning workers and customers.
Mr Solanki stressed that sometimes employers could not prevent the closure of their businesses because of financial difficulties. He said management of factories could easily lose money caused by several factors and customers could take their work elsewhere.
Mr Solanki said it could be due to increasing wage rates, threat of union bans, poor quality of workmanship of garments and poor marketing strategies.
However, Fiji Australia-Business Council president and garment factory owner Mark Halabe said there had been a trend of expatriate managers leaving the country after their permits expired.
"Exports to Australia have declined by 50 per cent- this is the worst for many years,'' Mr Halabe said. He said the declining economic growth in Australia and the termination of the Import Credit Scheme had been really drastic. Mr Halabe added it would take five more years to rebuild the industry if the "political arena stabilises''.
There would be more redundancies and more closures but this would depend on the political situation and how long it continued, he said.
Labour officers monitor factories
March 11 2001 - Fiji Times
LABOUR officers are carrying out random checks at night on garment factories in Lautoka. It follows the overnight closure of two garment factories in the city about three weeks ago, which left about 500 people without jobs.
The owners of Trident Garments Limited and Radar Pacific Limited removed all machinery overnight and closed their factories without informing the workers. The workers were surprised to see the factories closed and cleared off all machinery when they turned up for work after a few days break.
The intervention of the Labour Ministry has seen workers from the two factories receiving their final pay packet. Radar Pacific has also paid whatever was owed to the workers while Trident Garments' former workers are expected to receive their remaining payments this week.
A labour officer said yesterday they were monitoring reports of garment factories in Lautoka which are intending to close; some factories have also been visited.
Parties oppose GCC plan
By Reijeli Kikau
March 11 2001 - Fiji Times
MOST political parties and non-governmental organisations oppose legal submissions on the future of Fiji tabled at the Great Council of Chiefs meeting last week.
"We believe that whatever the GCC decides should be in the framework of the 1997 Constitution,'' said Fiji Trades Union Congress general secretary Felix Anthony. Parliament, he said, must be convened and early elections held because it was the will of the people.
The opinions put before the chiefs were:That the President empower permanent secretaries to run the Government;That a general election be held in August; and That the council ignore the ruling of the Court of Appeal and set up a new legal order under a new constitution.
Mr Anthony stressed that everything be done within the framework of the Constitution because actions outside of that would be illegal. Fijian Association Party leader Adi Kuini Speed came out strongly against the legal advice offered by some Fijian lawyers to ignore the Appeal Court.
"The Fiji Law Society should cancel their names from their list of members,'' she said yesterday, adding that the lawyers should be defending society and upholding the rule of law. Adi Kuini said the decisions taken today would determine the future of the generations of this country. She said a government of national unity should be set up in which the voices of elected parliamentarians are heard.
"It should be known that Parliament is very much alive and should convene,'' she said. Fiji Women's Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali said the mandate to rule should come from the people.
GCC to hear collective
decision
Monday, March 12, 2001
Chiefs from the three confederacies in Fiji are expected to present their collective decisions to the Great Council of Chiefs’ meeting tomorrow on the best way forward for Fiji.
Chiefs from Kubuna, Tovata and Burebasaga confederacies are currently meeting at three different venues.
The GCC is expected to elect a president and a vice before giving options to the president to deliberate on which government is best for Fiji at this time.
FM96 reported that there would be more than one nominee for the presidential seat at the GCC meeting tomorrow that will be held at the army headquarters in Nabua.
Baba to become PM?
Monday, March 12, 2001
Speculation is rife that Dr Tupeni Baba of the Fiji Labour Party may be sworn in as the country's new Prime Minister tomorrow.
This will allow the Great Council of Chiefs then to consult him on the appointment of the new President who is likely to be Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
It is believed this way has been suggested by Bau chief and lawyer Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi. Earlier today a Fiji Labour Party delegation led by Dr Baba met Iloilo. It included other Fijian MPs including Manoa Bale and Isireli Vuibau, and the SVT's Ratu Kinijioji Maivalili.
It is not clear whether elections will still go ahead as earlier predicted or whether the last Parliament will be allowed to sit out its full term. The Great Council of Chiefs meets tomorrow to decide on the way forward for the country.
Ministry unaware of EU
decision
Monday, March 12, 2001
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not aware of a decision by the European Union to suspend bilateral development assistance to Fiji as stated by the Citizens Constitutional Forum yesterday. This was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Taina Tagicakibau.
"All I can say is that we are still having consultation talks with the European Union, but a decision has not been made," Ms Tagicakibau said. However, CCF director Rev Akuila Yabaki reaffirmed that the decision was made over the weekend by the EU, but this has not been implemented yet.
"I was informed about this decision after talking with our London based conciliation partner, Andy Carl," Rev Yabaki said. He added that Mr Carl liaises with the EU and was aware of the situation in the country. "He told me that the decision to suspend all non-humanitarian development cooperation to Fiji has been made but is still pending approval by the EU/ACP working group.
" Mr Yabaki said the onus now lies with the Bose Levu Vakaturaga to return Fiji to democracy and only then will the EU consider restoring the development assistance scheme provided for under the Cotonou Agreement. According to Mr Yabaki, the EU have given four benchmarks which the BLV should consider during their meeting on Tuesday.
The four benchmarks being: An Unbiased Constitution They explained that the new constitution currently under construction would have to meet with international standards and those international conventions ratified by Fiji; Referendum In the absence of Parliament the EU will demand that the new constitution is eventually adopted through a popular referendum or perhaps through convening a national convention; Speight and supporters The EU will demand that Speight and his associates are removed/suspended from public office; and Free and Fair Elections These are to take place within one month as offered by the Interim Administration.
Mr Yabaki said the EU will recommend that all non-humanitarian development cooperation is frozen until the four benchmarks are renewed, which will then be recommended for a six-month review by the council.
According to the information received by Mr Yabaki from Mr Carl, member states of the EC appear to have confidence in the integrity and capacity of Fiji's elected and appointed leaders, to resolve this crisis legally and peacefully and seem reluctant to be seen to interfere in Fiji's domestic affairs. "The suspension of assistance will apparently only be imposed as a consequence of any unlawful decision which violates the rights of all or part of Fiji's citizens," Mr Carl said.
Interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said he was not aware of the European Union's decision when contacted yesterday.
Fiji's Daily Post
Law society criticises GCC
advisors
Monday, March 12, 2001
Advice given to the Great Council of Chiefs by a group of indigenous lawyers may border on treason, says Fiji Law Society president Chen Young.
Young said the group, who had advised the GCC to pardon those charged with treason for involvement in last year's coup, may have misinterpreted the court of appeal's judgment.
Young said the Great Council of Chiefs should disregard advice provided by the group of lawyers and instead work within the framework of the 1997 Constitution which was maintained as the supreme law by the appeals judges in their ruling.
In passing its March 1st judgment on the 1997 Constitution, the court of appeal had stated that their ruling only dealt with the legality of the situation and did not take into consideration the political scene.
Gay Paris
set to elect gay mayor
By
Charles Bremner, The Times
12mar01
THE
voters of Paris were last night poised to put the French capital
under left-wing rule for the first time in 130 years and to
install a homosexual as mayor.
Barring an upset yesterday, and in the run-off next Sunday,
Bertrand Delanoe, 50, a city politician with no national profile,
will slip comfortably into office with a mandate to clean up a
scandal-ridden municipal machine that has been in Gaullist hands
for 24 years.
A Socialist-led victory in traditionally conservative Paris will be a triumph for a man whose own party had dismissed him as a lightweight. A left-wing takeover in the capital, and possibly also in Lyons and Toulouse, will inflict heavy damage on President Jacques Chirac and his Gaullist party as they prepare for general and presidential elections in a year.
Paris became a Gaullist bastion after 1977 when Mr Chirac was elected as the city's first executive mayor in more than a century. The job had been abolished after the bloody insurrection of the Paris Commune in 1871.
Although most of France's 36,000 separate council elections will reflect local concerns, a leftward swing in Paris and other big cities will boost Lionel Jospin, the Socialist Prime Minister, as he manoeuvres to wrest the presidency from Mr Chirac and win a second term for his government.
Mr Delanoe has won over the relatively prosperous voters of Paris with a campaign on the theme of honesty. He promises to purge the patronage system that ran riot under the Gaullist Goliath and Jean Tiberi, who succeeded Mr Chirac in city hall in 1995.
Fuelling the leftward shift is the so-called "bo-bo" factor – the rise to affluence of the post-1960s "bourgeois-bohemian" generation, which is now a force in traditionally conservative quarters.
Mr Delanoe has confounded those who thought he had committed political suicide when, in 1998, he announced that he was homosexual. Open homosexuality was until recently deemed taboo. Mr Delanoe says Parisians have outgrown old prejudices.
Embracing
the children of militia rape
By Sian
Powell
10mar01
- The Australian
A CHILD
of the new nation of East Timor, five-month-old Rai, is much
loved by his mother. He is one of the first generation born free,
yet his past will imprison him.
His mother is Lorenca Martins, now 23, a wistful East Timorese
woman with eyes only for her child. His father is Maximu, a
militia thug and rapist.
Maximu raped Martins in a refugee camp near Atambua, over the border in West Timor, where she was exiled for six months. A member of the notorious Besi Merah Putih gang (Red and White Iron), he first violated her on December 8, 1999, in broad daylight, in the jungle.
"It happened to many women (in the camps)," she says. "If they saw a beautiful woman, they just took her."
Shrugging and fidgeting, she explains that she now lives with her cousin and his family on the outskirts of Ermera, a hill town south of Dili. She has never thought about abandoning Rai, even though he is the son of the enemy.
"I have to accept the baby," she says. "Because of the war, that's what happened. And also, he was given by God."
She has no hopes for herself. "I don't want to get married. I just want to look after my baby. I have had a bad life, and if I marry the badness will follow."
Martins, who in the eyes of many East Timorese is soiled, used and beyond redemption, is one of potentially thousands of victims of a concerted and violent campaign of rape that swept across East Timor, accelerating after the August 1999 vote on independence.
Like so many other violated East Timorese women, Martins has managed to divorce the reality of her child's parentage from the trauma of the rape. No one who works with raped women in East Timor can recall a single instance of a woman abandoning a child because it is the product of rape. Rather, they often cling to their children, renouncing any desire for a normal family with a husband.
The extent of the campaign of sexual assaults is only now coming to light. "Planned, organised and sustained" by militia and the Indonesian military, according to one local aid organisation report, the damage is so far incalculable because East Timorese women often shy away from reporting the crimes.
Nevertheless, the chief sex crimes investigator for the UN, former Australian Federal Police officer David Senior, says the final count will probably run into the thousands.
Senior has no doubt rape was used as a weapon of war in East Timor.
"The victims of rape were the wives and children of independence supporters and Falintil," he says. "It was to punish and torture the people for their pro-independence views."
Monday March 12, 12:36 PM
Witnesses said about 5,000 students were demanding the ouster of President Abdurrahman Wahid who is under increasing political pressure over his erratic 16-month rule.
About half of them had massed near the presidential palace in central Jakarta.
Thousands of protesters hit Jakarta streets - Indonesians protest against President Abdurrahman Wahid outside the presidential palace on March 7. Thousands of anti-Wahid protesters again gathered in Jakarta on March 12. REUTERS
A short distance away, some 500 Wahid supporters burned effigies of the president's main political foes, parliament speaker Akbar Tandjung and head of top legislature Amien Rais.
The two groups shouted at each other but there were no reports of any violence. About 1,000 security forces stood nearby but did not intervene.
Monday March 12, 11:55 AM
Taufik Riyadi, chairman of the University of Indonesia Students' Executive Board, said here Sunday that in view of the increasing support from legislators to Megawati, she would be the right person to replace Wahid.
"University students and the people are actually not in a position to support or reject a certain figure who might replace Gus Dur [the president's popular name], as long as he or she adheres to reforms agenda and is determined to improve the country's administrative system," he said.
At least one thousand university students and other people of the different segments of the society planned to take to the streets on Monday to call on Jakarta residents to stage a national hunger strike as a means to challenge Wahid's government.
Most of the students who will launch street rallies represent the University of Indonesia, Trisakti University, Jakarta National University, Mercu Buana University, Muhammadiyah University and National University.
The students will also carry banners saying: "Gus Dur is merely a travelling president and beloved son of the New Order era."
Taufik further said that those wishing to join the national strike slated on Monday [March 12] are called on to gather in front of the state palace to urge Gus Dur to have a broad mind and resign from the presidency.
If Gus Dur insists in maintaining his power, an even bigger strike and street rallies will be launched to make the president realize his incapability in running the country.
Thursday March 1 1:39 PM ET
Indonesia Refugee Recounts Violence
By DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press Writer
PARENGGEAN, Indonesia (AP) - Everything in Indonesian Borneo is under control, the vice president said Thursday, but Madurese settler Ani Bina disagrees: She lost her husband, her son and her home this week, and narrowly escaped a marauding gang of Dayak men.
With Indonesia's leaders under fire for their lethargic response to nearly two weeks of ethnic bloodshed in Central Kalimantan province, Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri visited a refugee camp in Sampit Thursday. She said there was no need to declare a state of emergency. Bina sees things differently.
``My life is gone. Everything I had and loved is dead,'' she said.
Holding a rag to protect him from the stench, an unidentified Dayak man stands by a charred vehicle where eight Madurese refugees were burned alive, in Parenggean, central Kalimantan province, on Borneo Island, about 800 kilometers (480 miles) northeast of Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, March 1, 2001. The eight were part of the 118 Madurese who were massacred by a Dayak mob on Sunday. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Bina's tragedy has been repeated hundreds of times in the Indonesian section of Borneo island, where Dayak natives have killed at least 469 people in the past 12 days, in a largely successful drive to purge the province of Madurese settlers.
The atrocities, which have included numerous beheadings, have underscored Indonesia's growing inability to control ethnic and separatist violence after four decades of dictatorship under former President Suharto (news - web sites).
Eight days ago, six Dayak men attacked Bina's house in the town of Sampit. They smashed windows, kicked in doors and cut her husband's head off with a machete while he was standing in the kitchen, Bina said.
She escaped out the back with her 4-year-old son and fled into the countryside while the Dayaks set fire to her home.
In the jungle near her home, she joined a group of about 20 other Madurese displaced by the violence. They had little food and no shelter from the tropical sun and rain.
Bina said they were on the run for days, desperately trying to evade Dayak death squads hunting for them and thousands of other Madurese in the jungle. After five days, her group was attacked by a Dayak gang at night, as they slept.
In the chaos, she was separated from her son.
``He was nowhere and the Dayaks were coming. I had to run,'' she said. ``Later, I was told two men and my boy were killed. Now I have no one.''
Bina said the next day a police patrol searching for the refugees found her group and escorted them to the camp in Sampit.
Now she can do little but wait for a government ship to take her from the province. But like many, Bina fears being shipped to Madura island, itself wracked by political violence in the past few weeks.
``Sampit is my home. I was born here. I have never been to Madura,'' she said. ``The government does not know how to stop the fighting. So it is just getting rid of us.''
Two ships carrying 9,000 refugees departed Sampit port Thursday for the city of Surabaya on Indonesia's main island of Java. Officials said about 23,000 people had been evacuated since the crisis began. About 25,000 Madurese settlers are still sheltering in squalid camps, short of food and medicine
Critics have slammed both the central government and the security forces, which largely stood by as Dayak gangs slaughtered Madurese migrants.
But after Megawati toured the refugee camp, she said the situation was under control.
More than 100,000 Madurese have settled in Kalimantan province since the 1960s as part of a government program to relieve overcrowding on Madura island. The Dayaks, who are native to Borneo, say they will use force to expel all Madurese from the island.
On Sunday, 118 Madurese were herded onto a soccer field and slaughtered, their bodies dumped in a mass grave. In Kualakuayan village, where the Dayaks responsible for Sunday's massacre are alleged to have come from, residents expressed support for the struggle to drive all Madurese from Kalimantan.
``The Madurese wanted to take over the Dayak land. They are thieves and murderers,'' said local villager Edwin, who wore a shirt with the American rock band ``Megadeth'' written across it.
Kualakuayan village is in Borneo's Dayak heartland. The settlement can only be reached after several hours by rough roads through tropical jungle and a boat trip up a river.
The first major clash between the two groups occurred in 1997 in West Kalimantan province, when about 3,000 people were killed.
Sunday March 11 9:52 AM ET
Indonesians Demand President Resign
By DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press Writer
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - About 1,000 demonstrators blocked roads in downtown Jakarta Sunday, demanding that Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid resign over corruption allegations and for failing to halt violence raging in much of the nation.
Carrying banners reading ``Wahid - game over!'' the protesters said they were warming up for a larger rally on Monday.
``He is a terrible president. He is corrupt. The economy is in a mess and there is violence everywhere,'' said one demonstrator, Gunawan, who like many Indonesians uses only one name.
The president returned from a 14-day overseas trip last week and vowed to keep his job despite escalating violence, an economy that foreign analysts warn is on the verge of collapse, and diminishing support for his coalition government.
On Saturday, he traveled to Madura Island and told refugees from a bloody ethnic conflict on Borneo Island that they may return be able to return within a year - if things settle down. Indigenous Dayak mobs killed almost 500 people in recent attacks on Madurese settlers.
Many of the victims were beheaded, and nearly all homes and businesses belonging to the settlers were burned. Dayak warlords have said they will kill any Madurese who try to return.
Wahid promised the refugees about $28 million in aid and educational scholarships.
An armed Dayak stands in front of a burning police truck after a group of Dayaks set it on fire during a protest in Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan province March 9, 2001. Nearly 200 students marched to the local parliament in Palangkaraya on Friday protesting against police shootings that killed four in the ravaged city in Indonesian Borneo. REUTERS/Darren White side
Last month, the parliament censured Wahid after he was implicated in two multi-million dollar corruption scandals. The move is the first step toward possible impeachment, and calls for popular Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri to take over have increased.
The economy hit a new bump this week as the country's currency, the rupiah, dropped in value and international credit rating agencies downgraded their economic outlook for Indonesia.
The state Antara news agency reported on Sunday that the government is considering postponing a planned 20 percent hike in fuel prices on April 1, fearing further unrest.
In another violence-plagued province, Aceh, Exxon Mobil said Saturday it had cut oil production because of rising separatist fighting.
In December, gunmen shot at an airplane chartered by the company's local branch, which is based in the town of Lhoksukon in northern Aceh.
Opinion for GCC meeting
unacceptable, says Patel
Monday, March 12, 2001
The Bose Levu Vakaturaga should not take legal advise which is designed to ignore the rule of law, lawyers representing displaced farmer Chandrika Prasad said.
The group said the two opinions reportedly given to the BLV to consider in tomorrow's meeting were legally unacceptable. Spokesman Anu Patel said the first opinion was recommending the removal of the constitution, the legal order and the judges appointed under it.
He said if the BLV was to follow this advise, it would be undertaking a revolution or a coup which could implicate the august body in possible treason charges. Mr Patel said that BLV cannot lend its authority to criminal acts intended to remove the entire legal order of which it is also a part.
"The second opinion, that is, advising the retention of the Interim Administration is equally unconstitutional. The setting up of a care-taker Cabinet can only be contemplated after Parliament has been convened if and only when it is dissolved after the dismissal of the prime minister.
"There is no legal basis for the Interim Administration. Nor it is justified extra-constitutionally under the doctrine of necessity which applies in most limited of circumstances which do not exit in Fiji." He said that if BLV was to be seen as responsible body, then it was advisable to obtain expert and independent Constitutional advice.
"A necessary step in implementing the decision of the Court Appeal is for the President to recall the Parliament elected in May 1999 to enable it to form a government.
"If Parliament proves unworkable because it is unable to form a government and choose an alternative prime minister, it should be dissolved as already advised by Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and fresh elections called.
"Apart from Constitutional functions, the BLV had an additional political role of exercising responsible leadership functions. "In this regard, the BLV and its members like every Fiji citizen, is bound by the rule of law set out in the 1997 Constitution.
Fiji's Daily Post
500 illegal immigrants in
Fiji
Monday, March 12, 2001
Fìve hundred illegal Asian immigrants are currently in the country. And the Police Department's Asian Organised Crime Investigation Unit is basically crippled in tracking them down with lack of resources.
The unit, which was set up last year, has only been able to send back four illegal immigrants following the constraints. In most cases the officers said Asians were living in shanty conditions with 23 to 30 people living in one room.
"Mere observations have also led us to believe that Asian women are involved in prostitution," he said. Officers that keep a tab on Asians have reported that most of those involved were employed as garment factory workers and clients pick them up from nightclubs.
"We have the pick-up trucks under close surveillance and keep a tab on who picks them up or drops them off. "These people are so desperate that they can do anything as long as they get money," he said.
A senior officer said they have one person in custody awaiting deportation. "We normally work with immigration officials and observe their movements.
"Once we realise there is a group that is involved in illegal activities, we then liaise with immigration, statutory bodies like the town councils, ministry of local government to try and find out how they are operating in the area," he said.
The officer said the Housing Authority and property owners who have rented their houses out to people are also questioned. The officer said the ministry of labour was also being consulted to trace the type of work permits issued and what kind of trade they were involved in.
The officer said the unit could accomplish a lot if government would provide them with vehicles and more capital. "We cannot just walk around when they expect us to do underworld investigations without facilities because at the moment were are handicapped," he said.
Fiji's Daily Post
Crises causes increase in
homicide, Shamima
Monday, March 12, 2001
FIJI Women's Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali has blamed the effects the May 19 crisis for the dramatic increase in the number of homicide cases in the country. Her comments follows the death of a 28-year-old man who was savagely stabbed by his work mate on Saturday evening at Naval, Nadi during a drinking party.
The victim died at the Nadi hospital from injuries to his chest. "We are really concerned about stabbing cases which has increased dramatically in the past 12 months," Ms Ali said. "Since May 19 the violence unleashed has gone unchecked in the country contributing to the rapid increase," he said.
Ms Ali said people find the easiest way to resolve a conflict by committing violence on other people. "There are a lot of desperate people in the country who turn to violence to find the easiest way out," she said. "In fact it has been seen lately that violence is increasing everyday. "Statistics can prove that compared to the last few months violence has increased and it can be blamed on the aftermath of the May 19 coup," Ms Ali said.
She also said the 1997 Constitution should be put into action and the rule of law should be followed. "The judicial system should implement harsher sentences on people who commit these crimes." Ms Ali said the leniency of the sentences took away the seriousness of the offence. "In fact it had been seen that the full brunt of the law is not given to the offenders and most of them walk free from the court or with minimum sentence.
"By giving full custodial sentence to people who commit these offences, the seriousness of the crime can be appreciated," Ms Ali said. Meanwhile, a woman has been admitted to the Lautoka Hospital after she was stabbed with a broken beer bottle by her 57-year-old husband. Police said the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in Natabua, Lautoka.
Ms Ali said the FWCC was concerned about the increase in the number of assault cases against women in the country. "The courts have not readily meted out harsher sentences on rape and other offences against women in the country," she said. Police investigations are still continuing. he dramatic increase in the number of homicide cases in the country.
Fiji's Daily Post
NLTB against ruling
Friday, March 09, 2001
The Native Land Trust Board (NLTB), is worried that its efforts
to address the indigenous Fijians concerns is going down the
tubes if the interim government decides to uphold the Court of
Appeal ruling which declared the 1997 constitution valid.
A submission on the issue will be tabled before the GCC by the board's general manager Maika Qarikau today.
According to the NLTB submission the five Fiji court of Appeal judges have left the doors open for the country to resolve its own political crisis. The board says the court admitted that it had limited the authority and power to comment on the political merit or wisdom of what occurred in the country following the May 19 coup.
According to NLTB the return of schedule A and B type lands and other proposed legislations concerning indigenous land will be watered down if it is accepted that the 1997 constitution was not abrogated by commodore Voreqe Bainimarama on the 27th of May last year.
The board has proposed to the GCC the court of Appeal may have purposely refrained from deliberating on the country's political situation leaving it to those better qualified then the judges to come up with a political solution to resolve our political crisis.
A similar submission was also prepared for the GCC by a group of Fijian lawyers tasked with looking options open to the interim government and the GCC.
Friday March 9 3:48 PM ET
Florida 14-Year-Old Sentenced to Life in Prison
By Marianne Armshaw
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Reuters) - A Florida judge sentenced a 14-year-old boy on Friday to life in prison without parole for the murder two years ago of a 6-year-old girl, rejecting the defense's request for a retrial or a reduction in the verdict.
In a case that has sparked controversy over the right punishment for a person so young, Broward County Circuit Judge Joel Lazarus ordered Lionel Tate to serve the state's mandatory sentence for a juvenile convicted of first-degree murder in an adult court -- life in prison without parole.
Tate was tried as an adult -- in Florida, juveniles charged with serious crimes may be prosecuted as adults -- and was convicted by a Broward County jury in January in the July 28, 1999 death of Tiffany Eunick.
His defense said at the trial that the girl died accidentally while Tate rough-housed with her in his home, imitating wrestlers' moves he had seen on television. But the prosecution said the injuries she suffered were far too severe for Tate not to have known he was inflicting serious harm.
The jury agreed in its conviction, and so did Lazarus in his strongly worded sentencing statement.
``The acts of Lionel Tate were not the playful acts of a child. The acts of Lionel Tate were not the acts born out of immaturity. The acts of Lionel Tate were cold, callous and indescribably cruel,'' the judge said.
Tate's lawyers said they would appeal the sentencing, and the prosecutor, Ken Padowitz, said he would make a clemency appeal to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, younger brother of President George W. Bush (news - web sites), for a reduction of the sentence.
Human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement the sentence was a violation of international law, which, it said, clearly states that the possibility of parole cannot be denied to children, however serious their crime.
Tate Case Far From Over
In Florida, Lazarus lacked leeway on sentencing for first-degree murder, but he did have the option of reducing the verdict to second-degree murder or manslaughter, which would carry a lesser sentence, or ordering a retrial.
He rejected both those possibilities, saying the evidence at the trial was sufficient to support the jury's verdict.
Tate, a heavyset boy with a round face, was in court for the sentencing, dressed in beige jail clothes. He showed no emotion when Lazarus read his sentence, but was crying by the time he was led from the court in Fort Lauderdale.
There were cries of dismay from Tate supporters in the courtroom when the sentencing was read, but the boy's mother, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Kathleen Grossett-Tate, seemed to take the news calmly.
Tate's case, which has been watched by civil rights groups that have argued the boy is too young to face life in prison, appeared to be far from over.
Padowitz, speaking after the sentencing, defended his decision to prosecute Tate as an adult after the boy was indicted for first-degree murder by a grand jury. He told reporters the boy had been ``correctly and legally sentenced for first-degree murder by this court.''
But he would make a clemency appeal for a lesser sentence to the governor.
``I absolutely am prepared immediately to go with the defense team to ask the governor and Cabinet to hold a clemency hearing and reduce the sentence,'' Padowitz told reporters.
He added that he believed judges in Florida should have discretion on sentencing when facing cases of juveniles convicted in adult trials.
``This was a horrible case, there are no winners here, but there was justice for Tiffany Eunick,'' Padowitz said.
Tate's appeals lawyer, Richard Rosenbaum, said he would definitely be appealing the case, and the defense has 30 days to do so.
'Wrestling Defense'
The boy's attorney, Jim Lewis, has been criticized in recent months for his novel and failed ``wrestling defense.''
He was openly regretful after the sentencing over the way the case had been handled, saying he wished he had been able to persuade Tate's mother to accept a pretrial plea offer that would have meant a far lesser sentence for the boy.
Under the prosecution's plea offer turned down by the defense, Tate could have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and served three years in juvenile detention and 10 years' probation.
``That was a great plea offer. ... If we could snatch that plea bargain back ... it was fair then, it is fair now,'' Lewis said. ``Lionel Tate is being punished because adults around him made bad decisions.''
Grossett-Tate has said she and her son had no idea before the January verdict that he might face life in prison. On Friday, she told the court, ``People say I am a fool not to accept the plea from the state, but how do you accept a plea for second degree-murder when your child was just playing?''
``I can only imagine the horrors this child is now going to go through,'' Lewis said of the prospects now facing the boy.
Amnesty International representative Ajamu Baraka, who monitored the sentencing hearings, said: ``Florida leads the nation in the prosecution of children as adults. It is causing us some degree of concern.''
But at a sentencing hearing last week, Eunick's father said Tate should be locked away for the rest of his life.
``Now everyone is pleading for him as though he is the victim,'' Mark James told the court. ``He is the criminal.''
That was echoed by Lazarus on Friday as he noted he had received messages of support for Tate.
``Voices cry out for 'justice,' but not for justice for Tiffany Eunick. ... In the court of public opinion, Lionel Tate has turned into the victim,'' the judge said.
Friday March 9 12:33 PM ET
Hundreds Volunteer for Clones, Scientists Say
By Jane Barrett
ROME (Reuters) - Hundreds of couples have volunteered for an experiment to create the first cloned children despite strong religious and scientific opposition, a team of scientists said Friday.
Since the international team said in January it would work to produce the first human clone, between 600 and 700 couples have put themselves forward and the number is rising rapidly, U.S. doctor Panayiotis Zavos said.
``Interest has come from all over, from Japan to Argentina, from Germany to Britain,'' he told reporters after saying his team was ready to start cloning in the next few weeks, principally to help infertile couples bear children.
Italian obstetrician Severino Antinori(C) arrives for a meeting with an international group of fertility experts flanked by American scientist Panayiotis Zavos(R) and Austrian scientist Walter Feichtinger in Rome March 9, 2001. The team is launching a highly controversial effort to clone a human and told conference attendees that over 600 couples had volunteered for the experiment. (Paolo Cocco/Reuters)
``Being infertile is like a stop sign. You face the deficiency and ask God 'Why me? Why do I have to go and get sperm cells from someone else in order to have a child?''' he said after a cloning conference at a Rome university hospital.
And he deflected mounting criticism of his plans, saying people would eventually get over opposition to human cloning.
``Historically this is normal but once the first baby is born and it cries, the world will embrace it,'' he said.
``Now that we have crossed into the third millennium, we have the technology to break the rules of nature.''
But the proposal has come under fire from mainstream scientists and religious groups. Friday, Father Gino Concetti, a moral theologian whose views are thought to reflect those of Pope John Paul (news - web sites), reiterated the Vatican's stance.
``These proposals contradict the truth of mankind, man's dignity, man's rights ... especially the right to be conceived in the human way,'' Concetti told Reuters.
Italian team member Severino Antinori, who gained notoriety by helping a 62-year-old woman give birth, also sought to dispel the flood of disapproval.
``Cloning may be considered as the last frontier to overcome male sterility and give the possibility to infertile males to pass on their genetic pattern,'' he told a packed auditorium of scientists and journalists.
``Some people say we are going to clone the world, but this isn't true... I'm asking all of us to be prudent and calm. We're talking science, we're not here to create a fuss.''
Wave Of Opposition
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, head of the John Paul II Institute for Bioethics at Rome's Gemelli hospital, said human cloning raised profoundly disturbing ethical issues.
``Those who made the atomic bomb went ahead in spite of knowing about its terrible destruction,'' he told Reuters Television before the cloning meeting started. ``But this doesn't mean that it was the best choice for humanity.''
``The forecasts (about human cloning) sadden us but don't scare us,'' he said, adding it would be a betrayal if the Roman Catholic Church's voice was not heard in the debate.
Scientists have also slammed the plan. A director of Rome's La Sapienza university wrote a letter disapproving of the cloning conference being held in one of its halls.
``I consider it disgraceful... and I dissociate myself from the meeting,'' Professor Ermelando Cosmi wrote.
Scientists have warned that 97 percent of animal cloning attempts have been unsuccessful and that those embryos which survive to birth are often deformed.
Dr. Ian Wilmut, who created Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep, said it had taken 277 attempts to get it right.
Zavos said that might not be the case with humans, firstly because they were a different species and secondly because the embryos would be scrutinized for any deformity.
The team said they would start work within weeks but would not say where they will set up their cloning laboratory for security reasons. When the team announced their plans in January, they said they would work in a Mediterranean country.
Zanos added they had ``unlimited funds'' from private donors but again would not elaborate.
``We have plenty of money, I can assure you. There are no financial restrictions,'' he said.
GOVERNMENT IN OR OUT?
Zavos said he was determined governments should develop further legislation on human cloning to keep it under control but at the same time said his experiments should not be subject to government scrutiny.
``We don't want the government involved in this project,'' he said. ``This is a high-tech, serious project and we're not going to bring in the technocrats if they are not needed.''
Last year, Britain proposed allowing human cells to be cloned for research purposes while other European countries including Spain and France have banned human cloning altogether.
Predominantly Roman Catholic Italy has looked into the therapeutic cloning of stem cells in order to combat degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimers.
``The genie is out of the bottle. We need to make sure it is bottled and disseminated responsibly,'' Zavos said.
Qarase stays: GCC
Friday, March 09, 2001
The Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) yesterday reaffirmed its support to the Laisenia Qarase-led administration and unanimously agreed that the latter should continue to govern.
The Council also outrightly rejected the Appeals Court ruling on the validity of the 1997 Constitution.
The Interim Administration was appointed by the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, and was subsequently given a mandate from the Great Council of Chiefs to take the politically- troubled country forward.
A well-placed source yesterday said the Council strongly felt that the Interim Administration was capable to lead the country to constitutional-democratic rule.
"Support for the Interim Administration has come from all the vanuas," the source said.
The source said the GCC was content with the way the administration has been able to maintain law and order in the country since they took office last year.
"The chiefs are convinced that the Interim Administration should rule till we have fresh elections," the source said.
On last week's Appeals Court ruling on the validity of the 1997 Constitution, the source said that as far as the GCC was concerned, the 1997 Constitution had been `abrogated' by Military chief, Commodore Frank Bainimarama on May 27, last year.
"The GCC does not recognise the court's ruling that the 1997 Constitution is fully intact...the Council rejects it and recognises that the 1997 Constitution has been abrogated," the source explained.
The Appeals Court last week had made three declarations:
Meanwhile, the chiefs will today give their verdict on the other two declarations of the court: the appointment of the President, Vice-President and the fate of the Mahendra Chaudhry-led government, whether to re-convene Parliament or to dissolve it and decide the dates for fresh elections.
Fiji's Daily Post
Chief lambasts Rabuka
Friday, March 09, 2001
The Great Council of Chiefs yesterday unanimously voted in Cakaudrove high chief and former Army Commander Ratu Epeli Ganilau as its chairman.
Adi Litia Cakobau was again returned unopposed as chairwoman at the council's meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks.
Ratu Epeli was nominated by the Burebasaga Confederacy.
The motion was supported by Tovata, confirming Ratu Epeli as chairman. Ratu Epeli replaces former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka who copped some heavy flak from Tui Noco Ratu Josaia Raiyawa immediately after being praised for his contribution to the country.
Mr Rabuka was thanked for leading the country in the days following the 1987 coup and political upheavals since then.
However, Tui Noco stopped short his litany of praises when he referred to the attempted mutiny by renegade soldiers in November last year.
Tui Noco alleged Mr Rabuka was the instigator of the mutiny attempt, an event which threw the nation, barely recovering from the May coup, back into turmoil.
He then urged Mr Rabuka to step down.
Fiji's Daily Post
Tarakinikini takes up UN
post
Friday, March 09, 2001
Confusion surrounding the withdrawal of a job appointment by the United Nations to Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinini was laid to rest after a new offer was received by the Office of the Prime Minister.
The UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations has confirmed that it is recruiting Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini for a one-year appointment as planning officer.
The good news was conveyed through Fiji's Ambassador to the UN, Amraiya Naidu.
Permanent Secretary in the PM's Office, Jioji Kotobalavu said the Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, has welcomed the news.
He said the PM had written directly to the UN Secretary General Kofi Anan, requesting that his office review the decision it had taken to withdraw their earlier offer to Lt-Col Tarakinikinki.
"The persistent efforts by Mr Qarase has certainly paid off and all of us in Fiji should be proud that a senior officer from Fiji Military Forces can now take up a position at the UN's Department of Peace Keeping Operations.
"Lt-Col Tarakinikini has been informed and we wish him and his family well in this important appointment."
Fiji's Daily Post
No pay workers
Friday, March 09, 2001
More than 500 employees of DG Garments in Lautoka have not been paid their wages from last week.
Divisional Labour Officer Western, Jone Matau said the factory's operation was slowing down and unpaid wages amount to $25,000.
"Of the 503 employees 100 have been laid off without their wages for last week while the other 403 workers are still employed but without wages,' Mr Matau said.
"All these workers were promised by the management that they will be paid last Friday but none of them have yet been paid.
"According to the general manager payments for the wages has not been sent from their directors in Melbourne and that's the main reason the workers have not been paid."
Mr Matau said they have already spoken to the management and have written to the two directors in Melbourne asking them to immediately send the funds to pay the workers.
"We have warned in the letter that any failure to do so will force us to resort to other measures to get the workers paid" the senior ministry of labour official said.
He added that the Trident Garments in Lautoka which faced the same problems and had closed down was issued with a court order resulting in the seizure of the factory by the department.
"This could be one of the options we'll take if DG Garments fails to pay its workers as soon as possible," Mr Matau said.
"The reason given to us by the management was that the buyer of the garments are not sending the payments resulting in the workers not getting paid," he said.
Some workers who were temporarily laid off for one week told the Daily Post on Wednesday they have been asked to stay home because the company could not pay them.
"The manager told us to wait for sometime before we get our pending wages and if the situation gets worst then they will sell the machines at the factory to pay us."
When asked yesterday, general manager Sanjeet Kumar said workers have not been paid their wages for this week and arrangements were being made for funds to pay them.
He denied anyone has been laid off and said operations were normal at the factory.
However, the Daily Post found out that the factory was closed around 3pm on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in an article on one of the garment factories which closed last week, a manager was qouted saying they were taking a one-week break as a result of reshuffles in the company's headquarters in Melbourne.
The manager later denied making the comment.
Fiji's Daily Post
GCC endorses report
Friday, March 09, 2001
The Great Council of Chiefs yesterday accepted and endorsed Interim Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase's report on his Government's progress since it was appointed on July 28 last year.
The august body on the first day of their scheduled two day meeting rejected the decision of the Fiji Court of Appeal's decision upholding the 1997 Constitution.
And it was Interim Attorney General, Alipate Qetaki who bore the wrath of the chiefs.
Mr Qetaki was told in no uncertain terms by Koya na Ratu mai Verata, Ratu Ilisoni Ravoka, of how the council felt about the decision and his role in it.
The Ratu mai Verata said the ruling was seen as a result of their inadequate preparations for what is regarded as the most important case in our nation's history to date.
And he said the "failure" of the State's legal team could be perceived as a sign of disrespect to the council's mandate to the Interim Administration.
In his report, Mr Qarase touched on the security situation, the national economy, the Constitution Review Commission, affirmative action for indigenous Fijians and Rotumans, and the Fiji Court of Appeal's ruling on the legality of the abrogation of the 1997 Constitution.
Regarding the ruling, Mr Qarase told the council his Government had pledged its support to the appellate courts ruling and its implementation.
Mr Qarase then walked the chiefs through the Appeals Court decision dwelling on the important bits; the 1997 Constitution being still the supreme law of the land; parliament was never prorogued and the resignation of former president, Ratu Kamisese Mara, on December 15, 2000.
He said all these declarations were in line with the orders of Justice Anthony Gates in the Lautoka High Court.
He acknowledged his Administration had been tasked with several things when they came into power.
Mr Qarase said they could no longer carry out that mandate since they had been declared an illegal regime.
The Interim Prime Minister said his Administration trusted in the wisdom of the council to deliberate and chose a path which would facilitate and continue what had been started.
He said the situation had stabilised to the point where the rule of law was once again in the hands of the police.
Mr Qarase told the council, Government and the Reserve Bank had together managed to halt the downward spiral of the economy immediately after the May 19 attempted coup.
He said one of the many pressing issues facing his Government, albeit illegal, was the implementation of policies to rejuvenate the economy.
The chiefs heard the thrust of the Blueprint was the placement of indigenous Fijians and Rotumans in the mainstream economic activities and so lessen the gap between indigenes and other races.
Mr Qarase said the Constitution Review Commission despite only having covered 35 per cent of the geographical area of Fiji, had managed to interact much more with the population than the Reeves Commission had in its full term.
Fiji's Daily Post
Dissension
Thursday, March 08, 2001
As the Great Council of Chiefs prepared to meet today to discuss the country's future, members of the deposed People's Coalition Government remain badly divided over the current political impasse.
And amidst frenzied meetings with President Ratu Josefa Iloilo yesterday, the protracted conflict within parties showed no sign of an imminent amicable end.
The faction led by deposed prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry wants parliament to be dissolved and fresh elections called.
However, the Dr Tupeni Baba led faction, wants parliament re-convened with a new prime minister appointed under a Government of National Unity.
The deposed opposition Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei Party parliamentarians are also not without their problems.
The party's management board yesterday gave opposition parliamentary leader, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola the nod to be prime minister in the GNU named from the re-convened parliament - a move Wailevu SVT parliamentarian Ratu Viliame Maivalili has denied.
In another twist to the confusing saga, the New Nationalist Party disassociated itself from the Fijian Political Parties' Forum, claiming the SVT jumped the gun by naming Ratu Inoke. Representatives of the party angrily walked out of the forum meeting yesterday because of the SVT decision.
Last night the party declared its support for Laisenia Qarase's Administration to continue until the next general election.
The Methodist Church yesterday gave its blessings to the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and the Qarase Administration.
Like the Chaudhry faction, it called for the dissolution of parliament and the staging of an early general election. GCC chairman Sitiveni Rabuka's term ends today and it is unlikely he will be re-elected.
Nadroga chief and veteran politician Ratu Osea Gavidi's name has been tentatively put forward by the Burebasaga Confederacy while Kubuna is reportedly behind Adi Litia Cakobau. GCC chairman Sitiveni Rabuka and secretary Asesela Sadole were both unavailable for comment yesterday.
Meanwhile, staff at Parliament say are ready to start with sessions if the GCC decides to recall parliament.
They are ready to go ahead despite although some damage from last year's occupation by remains unrepaired.
Security at the complex remains tight with only Parliamentary staff being allowed in.
Fiji's Daily Post
Chaudhry denies split
Thursday, March 08, 2001
Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has denied a split in the party.
And as far as he is concerned, nor is there a leadership wrangle.
He was responding to queries at a press conference of Coalition leaders yesterday afternoon.
Represented at the press conference held the National Farmers Union office at Augustus Street in Toorak were Ponipate Lesavua of the Party of National Unity, Poseci Bune from the Veitokani ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito, Leo Smith of the General Voters Party and Tupou Draunidalo representing her mother and Fijian Association Party leader Adi Kuini Speed.
FLP deputy leader Dr Tupeni Baba and other government members were not at the press conference.
Mr Chaudhry's denial was in the wake of leader Dr Baba leading a separate faction of parliamentarians to deliver their proposals for a new government to the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo yesterday.
Dr Baba, when contacted yesterday did not comment on the issue saying he was busy.
Mr Chaudhry said he did not attend Monday's caucus meeting chaired by Dr Baba because proper procedures were not followed adding it was an "internal matter".
Mr Chaudhry said the coalition was still intact. His claim comes despite a protracted leadership struggle in the coalition and the FLP.
Mr Lesavua was reported as saying his PANU party did not want Mr Chaudhry to return as prime minster and that Dr Tupeni Baba was the better choice, being indigenous Fijian.
Fiji's Daily Post
Chaudhry asks Ratu Iloilo
to dissolve parliament
Thursday, March 08, 2001
Deposed prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry yesterday asked the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections.
Alternatively, he advised Ratu Iloilo to reconvene the pre-coup parliament, amend the Electoral Act and then dissolve parliament.
When asked what the President's response to the proposal, Mr Chaudhry said it seemed the President was also "thinking along similar lines."
He led a delegation of coalition parliamentarians to Borron House yesterday morning to make their views known to the President.
They were Ponipate Lesavua from the Party of National Unity, Poseci Bune from the Veitokani ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito and Leo Smith of the General Voters Party.
In the ensuing press conference yesterday afternoon, Mr Chaudhry said the coalition "following careful and wide consultations" decided fresh elections was best in the "national interest".
"As the constitutional prime minister I have accordingly advised the President, in our meeting with him this (yesterday) morning, to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections," he said.
"It is our opinion that after months of uncertainty and upheaval, the people should deliver a fresh mandate for the governance of the nation."
However, Mr Chaudhry said dissatisfaction over the current alternative voting system remained.
"The People's Coalition has an open mind on this and has advised the acting President to reconvene parliament urgently to discuss changes to bring back the first past the post system."
He said for this to happen parliament must be recalled to enable the Electoral Act to be amended.
Mr Chaudhry said the nation had "paid a very heavy price for something that should not have happened."
He added the country does not need what he called self-serving leaders but "visionary leadership".
"I hope Fiji has realised that the only way forward for a nation in a globalised world is to adhere to democracy, human rights and the rule of law."
Meanwhile, Mr Chaudhry said he will not be attending today's Great Council of Chief's meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks because he had not been invited.
He said he wouldn't attend without an invitation even though he is an ex officio member of the council.
Fiji's Daily Post
Fiji Village - 6 March 2001
Sex can lead to many things, even robbery. Two Lautoka businessmen were robbed of $1,500 after picking up two male prostitutes at Narara Parade last night.
Police Commander Western, SSP Eroni Antonio said the four were having sex in the vehicle when the robber grabbed the wallet from his partner's pocket and ran away.
He was later caught under the influence of alcohol and with only $871.
Fiji Village - 6 March 2001
A Labasa man has been charged with the alleged murder of a 52 year old woman who was found dead in the Labasa River last month.
Ahmed Ali is remanded in custody and will appear in court with two other accused Umar Dutt and Roshni Devi on the 12th of this month.
Fiji Village - 6 March 2001
The combined Fijian political parties in their meeting today have resolved that they do not want the 1997 constitution. The parties want the 1997 constitution abrogated and support acting president Ratu Josefa Iloilo and the interim administration.
With regards to the prime ministers post, the parties have decided that they will not accept Mahendra Chaudary. Nor will they accept a representative from any organisation that is supported solely by non-Fijians.
They are also against anyone without any knowledge of Fijian language, customs or, leadership in Fijian politics to be PM of Fiji.
A joint statement by the parties is signed by: SVT president Ro Epeli Mataitini, VLV president Ratu Jo Rayawa, FAP vice-president Viliame Saulekaleka, Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party executive committee member Lasarusa Sovea, New Nationalist Party executive committee member Watisoni Butadroka and Taukei Movement general secretary Tevita Tabalailai.
Male prostitute robs businessman of $1500
Fiji Times - March 8 2001
A BUSINESSMAN who hired a male prostitute was robbed of $1500.
The prostitute was later caught while under the influence of
liquor, when he tried to run from a checkpoint in Lautoka.Police
officers were praised last night for their quick action in
chasing and catching the alleged robber.The incident began at
about 11pm on Tuesday when the businessman returned to Lautoka
from Ba.He hired a vehicle, picked up two male prostitutes,
bought some beer and headed towards Ba.One of the male
prostitutes went to the front seat to be with the driver while
the businessman joined the second one in the backseat.The
prostitute allegedly removed $1500 from the businessman's
pockets.The prostitute ran off with the money. The second was
apprehended at a checkpoint in Vunato and told police he knew
nothing about the incident.The alleged offender went back to the
city, hired a carrier and picked up four other prostitutes.They
allegedly spent the night drinking in the vehicle before they
were apprehended.
Nationalists walk out of meeting
NATIONALISTS walked out of a meeting of Fijian political parties
yesterday after moves to install Ratu Inoke Kubuabola as prime
minister.
The Soqosoqo Ni Vakavulewa Ni Taukei Party management board
wanted Ratu Inoke, the leader of the Opposition, to head a
government of national unity.
But nationalists' secretary Josaia Waqabaca said there was an
agreement that any decision on the prime ministership must be
made collectively.
He said the SVT had its own agenda in its bid to push Ratu Inoke
as a candidate for the post of prime minister. "In the past
this has been the stance of the SVT. They always forget other
political parties. They want to control everything,'' Mr Waqabaca
said.
Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party delegates left the meeting at
about 1.30pm, two hours after it started. Executive members from
the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei, Veitokani ni Lewenivanua
Lotu Vakarisito, Fijian Association, Nationalist Tako Lavo, New
Nationalist parties and Taukei Movement met at the
SVT office.
The parties met to show their anger with the Court of Appeal
ruling.
"It is important that the Fijian people know that the Fijian
parties will fight to the end to support the right of the
Fijian,'' said SVT spokeswoman Ema Druavesi. In a statement after
the meeting, the executives stated that:They wanted the 1997
Constitution abrogated;They supported the President Ratu Josefa
Iloilo and the interim administration; and An indigenous
Fijian become the prime minister.
The agreement was signed by Ro Epeli Mataitini (SVT), Ratu Josaia
Rayawa (VLV), Viliame Saulekaleka (FAP), Lasarusa Sovea
(NVTL), Watisoni Butadroka (New Nationalists and Tevita
Tabalailai (Taukei
Movement). The group will meet after the Great Council of Chiefs
meets today
Chiefs back Adi Litia
BAU chief Adi Litia Cakobau is a front runner for the post of
Great Council of Chiefs chairperson _ to replace Sitiveni Rabuka
_ when elections are held this morning.
Lobbying continued late last night as Fijian traditional groups
jockeyed for power.
Adi Litia, who is deputy chairperson of the council,is believed
to have the support of Tailevu, Ra and Naitasiri provinces.
It is likely she will gain the support of representatives from
Lomaiviti. And representatives from Rewa are believed to have
been approached to vote for Adi Litia.
Also backing the appointment of Adi Litia are chiefs in the
Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei management board. Although some
of those who participated in a meeting on Tuesday thought the
decision should be left to the chiefs council, board members were
asked to lobby their provincial representatives. Only the three
nominated members from each provincial council will be at the
army camp meeting.
The meeting will begin with the election of chair person and a
deputy before the Interim Government makes its presentation on
the political situation.
Then the council will go through the motions of appointing a
President and Vice President before they break up for the day to
allow members to study papers presented.
Reconvene Parliament, Beddoes demands
FIJI First movement chairman Mick Beddoes says the decision by
the interim administration to remain in power speaks volumes
about the integrity of the administration.
He said it refelcted poor judgement based on their individual
interests and not the greater interest of the country.
And he has called on the former deputy speaker od the House of
Representatives to reconvene Parliament immediately.
"The MPs must elect from their ranks a person they must all
agree to support as caretaker prime minister.'' he said.
Mr Beddoes said politicians must act decisively, constructively
and collectively for the sake of the people.
Security is tight
Thursday, March 08, 2001
Security is tight around Parliament while staff prepare for the next parliamentary session.
However, the session will depend on the outcome of the Great Council of Chiefs meeting at the Military Barracks in Nabua today.
No one is being allowed into the parliamentary complex except for staff members
"We are doing this in respect of the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, who will make a ruling today," acting Parliamentary Secretary Matelita Nagatalevu said.
Some members of the deposed-Coalition government have been calling up parliament to arrange for visits, but have been told they will not be allowed in.
Deputy speaker, Gyanendra Prasad was the only notable person who has been allowed to visit Parliament on Tuesday.
Under the 1997 Constitution he is the next to take over as Speaker of the House following the death of the former Speaker, Doctor Apenisa Kurisaqila, this year.
Mrs Nagatalevu said staff were prepared should parliament sessions begin its sitting next week.
This is despite the public address system still out of order - the result of rebel activities after the May 19 take over.
She said some offices and blocks were still damaged and have not been repaired. This included the accounts section and the chambers proper.
Labourers have cleaned up in an effort to transform it to its former pre-coup days.
Meanwhile, no arrangements have been made yet for the body of a civilian killed at the height of the crisis to be exhumed, Ms Nagatalevu said.
The Tailevu lad died from gunshot wounds during a confrontation between coup leader George Speight's group and rebel gunmen
There were talks that the authorities would exhume his body and take it to his village in Tailevu - but threats that a bomb is also planted in the grave may have hindered the move.
He was buried in Parliament a day before Speight and his supporters vacated the complex after about two months of occupation.
The grave, located right at the centre of the lawn near the main parliament complex, stands as a memory of those dark days of bloodshed, hatred and the taking of the hostages by Speight and his group. Police are manning the main gates, while military officers visit the complex now and again.
Fiji's Daily Post
Linkpacific call on
leaders to unite
Thursday, March 08, 2001
A women's organisation is calling on all political leaders to work together to return the country to parliamentary democracy.
Co-ordinator of fem `Linkpacific', Sharon Bhagwan said yesterday that leaders should consider what people feel right now and come to a mutual resolution.
"The outstanding issues (such as the call for amendments to the 1997 Constitution) could be debated in parliament under the frame work of the 1997 Constitution itself," Ms Bhagwan said.
"We hope that the political leaders of our country will recognise the efforts of civil society organisations, including women groups, who have been calling for a peaceful resolution to the current political impasse."
Meanwhile, fem'Linkpacific is also urging media organisations to pay attention and dedicate women's issues because today is International Women's Day and it coincides with the Bose Levu Vakaturaga meeting.
A range of activities are being organised today including a forum on Shanti Aur Ekta (peace and unity) organised by the National Council of Women Fiji (NCW Fiji), Women's Action for Democracy and Peace Initiative.
The forum will be held at the Young Women's Christian Association ground floor this morning.
Meanwhile, the International Women's Media Foundation's say nominations are being sought for Courage in Journalism Award.
This will be awarded to women journalists by honouring them for their strength of character in dangerous circumstances.
Fiji's Daily Post
NNP members walk out
Thursday, March 08, 2001
The Fijian Political Parties' Forum was disrupted yesterday when members of the New Nationalist Party walked out over differences about public statements made by the forum.
NNP vice president Viliame Savu and general secretary Josaia Waqabaca walked out of the meeting at about 1.30pm, followed by their supporters.
This was after disagreements over statements made by the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei Party touting Ratu Inoke Kubuabola as prime minister in a Government of National Unity.
"The understanding was that if ever there was such delicate issues that were to be released, a collective decision was to be obtained first from the Forum of these joint Fijian Political Parties," Mr Waqabaca said in a statement last night.
"In this case, the SVT went ahead without the Forum's collective decision."
Fiji's Daily Post
Maivalili hits out at SVT
Thursday, March 08, 2001
Cakaudrove Fijian Member of Parliament Ratu Kinijoji Maivalili said the Soqosoqo Vakavulewa ni Taukei breached its constitution when it named Ratu Inoke Kubuabola as its candidate for prime minister in the Government of National Unity.
He said the SVT Management Board that met on Tuesday March 6 in Suva had no power under the party's constitution to make that decision.
The SVT had publicly announced that Ratu Inoke was their candidate for prime minister on Wednesday.
"There were people who were not members of the party in that meeting.
Under the SVT Constitution only members of the party who are elected members of the House of representatives will decide who will be the leader in Parliament and be prime minister," Ratu Kinijoji said.
He said the SVT elected members of the House Representatives have yet to meet and Ratu Inoke as leader was yet to call the SVT Parliamentary Caucus.
"Ratu Inoke as leader has yet to call the SVT parliamentary Caucus meeting.
When he does we can participate in the decision of the new leader of the SVT and our participation in government," he said.
"The meeting of SVT Parliamentary Caucus this week will not involve any member of the SVT Party who is not entitled under the SVT Constitution to vote on the Parliamentary leader issue."
Fiji's Daily Post
Constitution protects
rights
Thursday, March 08, 2001
The Chandrika Prasad court battle should be for the advancement of human rights and not used by political factions to support their own agendas, says the Chairperson of the Fiji Human Rights Group, Doctor Roy Krishna.
He was reacting yesterday to reports that factions within a major Indian-dominated political party were trying to get the extra mileage from the case.
Dr Krishna said the type of government people wanted, especially those who were direct victims of May 19, was one which had respect for the rights of everyone irrespective of race, age, gender or sexuality.
"Of direct relevance was the Blueprint of the Interim Administration and the implementation of racialised policies to the disadvantage of 49 per cent of the population," Dr Krishna said.
"People were fed up of being marginalised and victimised on the basis of race and none of the political parties made their stand clear on whether they would support ideas behind the blueprint."
Chandrika Prasad's fight in the courts of Fiji, he said, had restored the 1997 Constitution along with the Bill of Rights.
"Section 30 of the Constitution protected citizens from unfair discrimination and any political party which upheld the fundamental human right to equality was very likely to get support from the public," Dr Krishna said.
Fiji's Daily Post
Chaudhry wants fresh
elections
Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Fiji’s elected prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry who is in the midst of a power struggle over the Fiji Labour Party leadership, today advised the interim president to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections.
At a news conference which ended at around 5pm, Chaudhry said he felt elections were the best way forward for the country.
Chaudhry said discussions with the interim president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, this morning was very fruitful.
Present at this morning’s discussions were Chaudhry’s Coalition partners Ponipate Lesavua of the Party of National Unity, Poseci Bune of the VLV and Leo Smith who represented the General Voters Party.
At the press conference, Chaudhry dismissed claims that there is a split in the Coalition party. He said today’s decision was made unanimously by all members of the Coalition.
He said he would leave it up to the president to decide on the reconvening of parliament.
Early elections unwise:
Baba
Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Chaudhry’s advice to the president to hold fresh elections is unwise, says Fiji Labour Party’s Dr Tupeni Baba.
Baba who held separate discussions with the president today said: "It is unwise at this stage to go into fresh elections."
He said this is because there are various issues that need to be looked at before elections can be held.
Baba said among issues that need to be thought over are the concerns of the economy, the concerns on the interest of the indigenous Fijians and the concerns of the grievances of Indian tenants.
Baba and Adi Kuini Speed were among a second faction of the People’s Coalition Party who met with interim president Ratu Josefa Iloilo today.
The other faction of the party met with the president earlier and was represented by ousted prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry, Poseci Bune, Ponipate Lesavua and Leo Smith.
Cabinet resigns
Wednesday, March 07, 2001
The interim cabinet’s resignation has been confirmed by Attorney General Alipate Qetaki today.
Qetaki said the decision was made at yesterday’s special cabinet meeting.
He said a unanimous decision was made and the resignation was handed to interim prime minister Laisenia Qarase who will hand it to acting president Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
Qetaki said the resolution was made after the Court of Appeal ruled that the 1997 Constitution was valid and that the interim administration was illegal.
He added that they are yet to know if the resignation has been accepted by interim president Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
Meanwhile, the interim government is hopeful of getting a fresh standing if ousted prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry’s advice to have parliament dissolved is taken.
Chaudhry unsure of future
as PM
Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Majority of the people’s coalition MPs have decided not to re-elect Chaudhry as Prime Minister if parliament is recalled and this would mean that he would not be getting his old job back.
This was confirmed by the Fijian Association Party (FAP) leader, and, former deputy Prime Minister Adi Kuini Vuikaba Speed.
She said that most members of the People’s Coalition government have had enough of Chaudhry’s style of leadership and its highly unlikely Chaudhry will return as Prime Minister.
"It’s totally impossible that he is re-elected back. Doctor Baba as the most senior minister is chairing us and we recognize him as our leader. The only way forward now is a multi-party coalition.
However labour party spokesman, Krishna Dutt admitted that Chaudhry would never be a part of a government of national unity.
Fijian parties against
ruling
Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Five Fijian political parties combined forces and today resolved that they do not want Chaudhry to resume office.
The parties want the 1997 constitution abrogated and they have reiterated their support for the vice president Ratu Josefa Iloilo and the interim administration.
FM96 radio reports today stated that the parties are against anyone without the knowledge of Fijian language, customs, or leadership in Fijian politics to take up the Prime Ministership.
The joint statement was made by The Soqosoqo Vakavulewa ni Taukei party (SVT), the Vanua Lotu Vakarisito party (VLV), the Fijian Association party (FAP), the Vanuatakolavo party,and the Taukei movement.
Girl commits suicide
Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Another teenager committed suicide in the Western Division over the weekend, forcing a non-governmental organisation to call for counselling centres to be set up.
The 18-year-old girl of Koro Number One, outside Vatukoula, had burnt herself on Saturday night after an argument with her defacto husband.
Police said the girl later poured kerosene on her body before igniting herself.
Divisional Police Commander Senior Superintendent of Police Eroni Antonio said the girl suffered from 90 percent burns and was admitted to the Lautoka hospital following the incident on Saturday.
She died on Sunday and a post mortem result is being awaited.
The Western Division has chalked up alarming statistics with an attempted suicide or actual suicides recorded every week, Co-ordinator of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre Shamima Ali said.
Ms Ali has called for the setting up of an effective institution to offer counselling or people will start resorting to suicide, alcohol and domestic violence.
Ms Ali said social problems faced by Pacific countries affected many young people.
"The current political climate in the country make women so vulnerable and they resort to such things," she said.
Available figures show there were 89 suicides and 96 attempted suicides compared to the 32 drowning and the 63 victims of fatal road accidents.
A breakdown of figures reveal that out of the 98 who died 72 were Indians while 12 were Fijians and four other races.
Fiji's Daily Post
Wednesday March 7 6:01 AM ET
China School Collapse Kills 41, Fireworks
Suspected
By Brian Rhoads
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - At least 41 people, most of them children, were killed when an explosion ripped through a primary school in central China and one official said on Wednesday that fireworks could be to blame.
The blast tore through the center of the two-story building in the village of Fanglin in the eastern province of Jiangxi just before noon on Tuesday while nearly 200 schoolchildren and teachers attended class, officials said.
``Most probably it is because of firecrackers, but a final result will come out after investigators convene,'' said a government spokesman in Wanzai County, where Fanglin is located in the township of Tanbu.
``I don't know right now how they could cause this explosion,'' he added.
Unconfirmed reports on Chinese Web sites suggested children in the school were making fireworks in their classrooms to raise pocket money. One county official formally denied the reports.
Chinese soldiers search for survivors after a fireworks explosion caused the collapse of a primary school in the village of Fanglin, in the eastern province of Jiangxi, March 6, 2001. More than 41 people, mainly students, have died, officials said. (China Photo via Reuters)
Four classrooms were leveled and officials said that in addition to the 41 dead, about 30 people were injured -- burned, crushed or both.
Another Wanzai county official said on Wednesday that all the bodies had been recovered from the rubble. ``We are so busy all the day, consoling families members of the dead,'' he added.
Provincial officials had gone to the scene to spearhead the investigation into the blast and soldiers had cordoned off the area, officials said.
County officials said earlier they were awaiting confirmation from investigators that fireworks were involved in the blast.
The investigators had not issued a report by late afternoon, the county spokesman said. ``The spot is blocked off and nobody knows the developments,'' he added.
Community Devastated
Cash-strapped Chinese schools do sometimes rent out space to businesses to raise money.
Last month, state television reported a room rented out by one Shanghai school was used as a gambling den. While children played outside, older people were inside playing mahjong.
Whatever the cause, the school blast devastated a community and left several children fighting for their lives.
A Tanbu township hospital said it had transferred nine of the most seriously injured to better equipped county hospitals.
``There might be one or two more deaths among those whose conditions are more grave,'' a hospital official said.
State television showed pictures of rescue workers, including dozens of soldiers, rooting through the rubble, some using mattocks or spades but many just their bare hands.
Among the things they uncovered were children's school books, including one cartoon exercise book titled ``The Little Monkey.''
Jiangxi Governor Shu Shengyou left Beijing, where he was attending the annual National People's Congress, China's parliament, to head to the scene, state television reported.
Firecrackers have caused a series of disasters in recent years.
In March 2000, an explosion at a huge illegal firecracker factory killed 33 people in Jiangxi provinces's Pingxiang city -- just over 60 miles west of Wanzai county.
In August, another explosion of firework ingredients stored illegally in an apartment killed 21 in another Jiangxi county. A blast in the southern province of Guangdong last June killed 38.
Tuesday March 06 06:57 PM EST
By Stephanie Losi, www.NewsFactor.com
Last month it was Anna Kournikova. Now the Naked Wife has come to the Internet –- packing a payload that is far more destructive than the Kournikova worm's. The Naked Wife Trojan virus -– which masquerades as a Flash movie of a naked woman -– spreads via Microsoft Outlook and can damage vital system files, rendering an affected computer inoperable, according to security company McAfee.com Corporation (Nasdaq: MCAF - news).
When run, the worm sends itself to all recipients in a user's Windows Address Book and also attempts to delete all .BMP, .COM, .DLL, .EXE, and .INI files in the WINDOWS and WINDOWS\SYSTEM directories, McAfee.com said.
The virus is also known as NAKEDWIFE, W32/Naked@MM and W32.HLLW.JibJab@mm, according to Computer Associates International, Inc.
JibJab Jihad
The virus arrives as an e-mail titled "Fw: Naked Wife" with a message body that reads: "My wife never look like that! ;-) Best Regards, (sender's name here)" and an attachment called "NakedWife.exe."
When a user opens the NakedWife.exe file, the virus copies itself to a TEMP directory and displays a Window called "Flash" that reads "JibJab Loading" while it attempts to send itself to other users and destroys system files.
Choosing the HELP|ABOUT menu in the "Flash" window displays a message box entitled, "Flash," which reads "You're are now F**KED! (C) 2001 by BGK (Bill Gates Killer)," according to McAfee.com.
Diagnosing the Disease
Users who cannot launch applications; cannot find .BMP, .COM, .DLL, .EXE, and .INI files in the WINDOWS and WINDOWS\SYSTEM directories; or receive e-mail that says they have sent others the NakedWife.exe attachment are likely infected by the virus, McAfee.com said.
Those hoping to avoid the Naked Wife -– tempting as she might sound –- can download virus updates from antivirus companies' Web sites.
Avoid 'Stranger' Attachments
Just as in the real world, staying away from unfamiliar attachments can reduce risk.
"This is yet another example of a mass mailing threat that can spread easily and rapidly, by fooling computer users into executing the malicious payload," said Ian Hameroff, business manager for antivirus solutions at Computer Associates. "Users should always exercise caution and utilize good judgment when receiving e-mails with attachments."
"There's no new technology being employed here, just effective social engineering, I'm sad to say," added David Perry, global education director for network antivirus and security company Trend Micro. "Users really need to learn to think twice before clicking on attachments."
Kournikova Redux
The Anna Kournikova worm, which struck in mid-February, initially posed as an e-mail attachment purporting to include a photograph of the 19-year-old Russian tennis star, currently ranked ninth in the world among women players. The virus did not actually contain a photo.
Instead, when a user opened the attachment, the virus spread through the computer's e-mail program, sending itself to all those listed in the computer's e-mail address book.
Like previous worm e-mails -- but unlike the malicious Naked Wife bug -- the so-called Anna virus did not harm infected systems. However, it caused traffic jams on e-mail servers and cost companies a bundle in time and energy to clean up the mess it left behind.
Wednesday March 7 2:28 PM ET
Fresh Paint, Nightmares Greet Returning Santana
Students
By Sarah Tippit
SANTEE, Calif. (Reuters) - Hastily repainted walls, filled in bullet holes and floors washed clean of blood greeted stunned students returning to Santana High School on Wednesday, after a shooting rampage killed two of their classmates, injured 13 others and left a community grasping for answers.
Teenagers, many of them crying, greeted each other with hugs and laid flowers on a makeshift memorial at the scene of the worst incident of school violence in the United States since two teenagers killed 15 people, including themselves, at Columbine High School in Colorado two years ago.
Students pause at a makeshift memorial near the front of Santana High School March 7, 2001 as they return to school two days after 15-year-old student Charles Andrew Williams allegedly opened fire at their school, killing two people and wounding 13 in the nation's deadliest school attack since Columbine. Williams will be charged as an adult with murder, assault with a deadly weapon and gun possession. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Brian Brinkel, 18, had already made a brief return visit on Tuesday night after the Santana High campus had been restored to a semblance of normality. ``It's all cleaned up, but I can still see my friends being shot. I could still see the bullets ricocheting off the wall. It was tough,'' Brinkel told reporters.
Charles ``Andy'' Williams, the scrawny 15-year-old Santana student who allegedly hit back after months of bullying, was to be formally arraigned on murder charges later on Wednesday but investigators said the precise motives for Monday's attack remained largely a mystery.
Violence Continues
Meanwhile, school violence continued across the nation on Wednesday. A teenage girl in Williamsport, Pa., opened fire in the cafeteria of a Catholic high school and first reports said that another girl was slightly injured. In Kent, Wash., one high school student was arrested for bringing a gun to class and in Twentynine Palms, Calif., two students were arrested for possession of weapons.
Williams, described by friends as a quiet, thin boy subjected to constant ridicule by some of the 1,900 students at Santana High, has undergone hours of questioning since being arrested in the boy's bathroom of the school with a loaded gun cocked to fire eight more rounds.
Students holds hands as they return to Santee High School, March 7, 2001 two days after 15-year-old student Charles Andrew Williams allegedly opened fire at their school, killing two people and wounding 13. Williams will be charged as an adult with murder, assault with a deadly weapon and gun possession at his arraignment. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
But investigators said he had shown no remorse and has given no explanation for an attack that had plenty of warnings but was dismissed, as Williams himself was, as a big joke.
``This was one angry young man, who for reasons that are unknown to us started firing indiscriminately and he has not shown any remorse,'' homicide detective Jerry Lewis told a news conference on Tuesday.
``They don't know if he was mad at the school, mad at students, mad at life, mad at home,'' Lewis added.
Three students who knew of Williams' threats but did not report them were excluded from returning to school on Wednesday -- partly for their own safety.
``Among the students there is a lot of anger and grief and we don't need to add to it,'' local school board superintendent Granger Ward told reporters.
Ward said the three, who have been widely quoted in the media, were not suspended but remarks by other students suggested they could be in for a hostile reception.
Jake Clark, 14, told reporters, ``A lot of people here are angry with them and would go after them if they showed up.''
With grief and shock giving way to anger and recrimination, a lonely group of three parents stood outside the school holding signs saying; ``Andy did a terrible thing. Andy is not a terrible person, Andy needs your love and support.''
Friends Of Alleged Shooter Are Harassed
Some families reported that the friends of Williams who failed to report his threats to take a gun to school were already being victimized and harassed by fellow students and families of the those shot.
``Andy's friends are victims too and they need forgiveness,'' said parent Karen Boaz. She said her daughter could not come to terms with what had happened ``It's all too emotional for her. She can't work through it.''
Williams, whose parents are divorced, had moved to Santee with his father and brother last year from rural Maryland where friends painted a very different picture to the eerily smiling gunman arrested on Monday.
``He just has a gentle kind heart. The person I saw on TV in the police car was empty. That wasn't the boy who came and ate dinner at our house and called me mom,'' said Mary Nederlander, the mother of Williams' former Maryland girlfriend Kathleen Seek.
``He e-mailed us and told us that he just wanted to come home and that it was just awful over there. They were teasing him, calling him 'country boy.' He didn't dress right, he didn't look right. He was skinny, they called him gay,'' Nederlander told NBC's ``Today'' show.
Homicide detective Lewis said Williams had stolen the .22 caliber handgun used in the attack from his father's locked gun collection. He appeared to have fired about 30 rounds. Investigators have since seized seven other weapons from the family's apartment.
Villager jailed for rape attempt
Fiji Times - March 6 2001
THE Labasa court would treat seriously all sexual offences
committed in the Northern Division, Magistrate Maika Nakora said
yesterday while jailing a man for attempted rape. Tevita
Taimalawai, 32, was sentenced to five years after pleading guilty
to house break-in with intent to commit rape.
"Sexual offences against women are on the rise and you were
stopped short of raping the complainant,'' Magistrate Nakora told
Taimalawai.
"Women and children should feel safe in their own homes.''
Prosecuting officer Corporal Esira Dokoni told the court
Taimalawai, 32, tried to enter the woman's bedroom by forcing
open the louvres at 12.30am on March 2.
The woman's husband had left for Nagigi Village the day before
and she was alone with her son. She shone the torch at the
accused and recognised him, then stood up locked the window and
drew the curtains. Cpl Dokoni said the accused broke open the
main door and the complainant later realised he was standing
beside her. "She told him to go away but he covered her
mouth and punched her,'' Cpl Domoni said.
The complainant fell unconscious and when she came to her senses,
she felt him fondling her breasts. Cpl Dokoni said when she
yelled for help Taimalawai ran away. Tukavesi police organised a
search party and Taimalawai was arrested on March 5.
Chaudhry "funded Prasad case'
Fiji Times - March 6 2001
FIJI Human Rights Group chairman Doctor Roy Krishna yesterday
revealed that Mehndra Chaudhry helped fund Chandrika Prasad's
court case.
Reacting to complaint by refugees at Lautoka yesterday, Dr
Krishna said the refugees should not complain because Mr Chaudhry
helped pay the court expenses of Mr Prasad.
"Also Mr Chaudhry has helped us, by providing funds for the
Chandrika Prasad case and it is wrong for the refugees to say
that he has not done anything'', he told The Fiji Times.
Since the high-profile case went to the Court of Appeal, lawyers
and supporters of Mr Prasad have been tight-lipped about where
and who was funding the case.
The Appeal Court last month ruled in favour of Mr Prasad by
upholding the 1997 Constitution and ruling that the Government
pay him $50,000 to cover court costs and meet travel and
accommodation expenses of
his lawyers. Last night Mr Chaudhry was unavailable for comment.
Refugees reject Chaudhry PM bid
By Avinesh Gopal - March 6 2001
REFUGEES in Lautoka do not want Mahendra Chaudhry to return as
prime minister in the interest of peace and racial harmony in
Fiji, it was disclosed after a meeting yesterday.
And they are eagerly awaiting a legal government to take office
before negotiating their claims for compensation. The refugees
yesterday claimed that Mr Chaudhry and the Fiji Labour Party had
failed to assist the hungry men, women and children living in the
Lautoka Girmit Centre.
"In the interest of peace and racial harmony in our beloved
country we, as the victims of violence, strongly feel that
Mahendra Chaudhry should not become the Prime Minister in the
forthcoming Government,'' said camp co-ordinator Beni Sami.
"Mr Chaudhry and his Labour Party have repeatedly refused or
have blatantly failed to assist our hungry and starving brothers,
sisters and children at the camp.
"Hence, Mr Chaudhry has proven that he lacks the
understanding and compassion to care for the poor Indian or
Fijian.''
But the Fiji Human Rights Group, which set up the camp to provide
shelter for Indian farmers who were terrorised at Naitasiri, said
the refugees should not make political statements because the
organisation was apolitical.
"The Group has not said anything on who should or should not
be prime minister and it is not right for the refugees to comment
on such issues,'' said Group chairman Dr Roy Krishna.
Mr Sami also revealed after their meeting that there was a
shortage of food at the camp. "We are very concerned about
our future at the moment we are facing acute food and financial
shortages at the camp,'' he said.
"We are now eagerly awaiting the implementation of the court
ruling so as to have a legal government to negotiate our claims
for compensation.''
He appealed to the public for assistance "to help us survive
these very desperate and trying times with some hope and
dignity.''
Chaudhry's
deputy calls him unsuitable
07.03.2001 - NZ herald
SUVA - The deputy of ousted Fijian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry said yesterday that the former leader was totally unsuitable for governing the country and should leave politics for the sake of national unity.
Tupeni Baba said a meeting of members of Chaudhry's Labour Party had called on Chaudhry, Fiji's first ethnic Indian Prime Minister, to step down in favour of a government of national unity led by an indigenous Fijian.
"Mahendra Chaudhry has been found by the people of this country to be totally unsuitable for governing this country," Baba said. "We have called for him to step down not only from our party but everywhere," Baba told Australian radio in Suva.
Chaudhry's People's Coalition Government is in limbo after being overthrown by a racially inspired coup last year and after a court ruling last week which declared Fiji's post-coup, military-backed interim Government illegal.
The move against Chaudhry came as interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase called his cabinet together to decide how to respond to the court ruling.
Qarase has pledged to support a return to constitutional rule but has yet to give any firm indication of how or when that would be achieved.
Fiji is also awaiting a decision by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, expected tomorrow, on how Fiji can be steered back to constitutional rule.
Chaudhry has called for his Government to be reinstated.
- REUTERS
Another garment factory to close
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - 6 March 2001
Another garment factory based in Western Viti Levu is to be closed during the next fortnight.
Sources indicate that the factory is facing difficulties over getting adequate orders from source markets. The factory employs over 300 workers. The workers have not been informed of the closure move.
Meanwhile most of Fiji's larger factories are still operating on a 3 to 4 day per week cycle. Many factories have reportedly reduced the wages of the workers as well.
One manufacturer has stated that the garment industry is doomed because the manufacturers have lost faith in the country's institutions to maintain the rule of law. He cited the continuing reluctance of the Qarase regime to resign despite the court ruling it illegal. He also stated that corruption is rising and that "clean investors" would find no place in the country.
Meanwhile the Fiji Sugar Corporation announced that it needs to borrow $122m to salvage the company from its financial problems. The company is expecting a loss of $12m for the 2000 season which ends at the end of March. It has forecasted a larger loss for the next season.
Evicted farmers without assistance; NLTB lawyers meeting for constitution abrogation
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - 6 March 2001
While the country is on the doorstep to constitutional democracy, thousands of the country's evicted farmers remain without any state assistance.
Over 2000 farmers who have been evicted from their farms by the regime backed Native Lands Trust Board have remained either as refugees or are now squatting throughout the country. So far the regime has not provided a single cent of assistance to the farmers and their dependents. Including the dependents, it is estimated that over 25,000 people have been made homeless by the regime and the NLTB. A vast majority of these homeless are people of ethnic Indian origin.
The National Farmers Union has made provision for temporary shelter for these people in refugee camps. But these camps suffer from shortage of resources.
Poverty in the country is rising as workers are continuing to lose their jobs and farmers are being evicted.
Meanwhile Radio Fiji reported yesterday that a three-member group of lawyers is meeting to ensure that the 1997 Constitution is abrogated. Two of the three members of the committee are NLTB's General Manager Maika Qarikau and its Legal Manager Niko Nawaikula. Both these are active supporters of the terrorist George Speight.
Uncertainty over Qarase regime
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - 6 March 2001
Uncertainty surrounds the fate of the Qarase regime.
Fiji's media provide conflicting reports on its stand.
One media outlet states that the Qarase group decided to resign because it was declared illegal. Another printed a picture of one of its ministers saying that the minister was on his way to the last meeting of the regime. Another states that the advice to the regime from its own Attorney General is that the regime is illegal and must resign. Yet another states that the legal advice was rejected and that the regime will stay on. Another report states that the regime is recommending to the Acting President that Parliament be dissolved and that the regime be allowed to take the country to the next election, which in effect is a rejection of the Court decision.
What is clear is that the regime met the Acting President yesterday. Today's Fiji Times reports that the regime informed the Acting President that it was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs and it would be disrespectful of the GCC if the regime resigned. It further states its regime source as saying that one reason why the regime does not want to resign is that "traditionalists could use [the resignation] as an opportunity to start stirring trouble". This is despite the assurances to the Qarase group from the military and the police that they are ready to handle any likely trouble.
What is clear is that a section of the regime has no wish to adhere to the Court decision and wants to cling to power at any cost to Fiji. There, however, is another section which wants to abide by the rule of law, but their view has been muzzled by the more radical of the lot which was behind the May 19 terrorism.
Fiji may lose peacekeeping job if regime defies court decision
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - 6 March 2001
Fiji may lose the esteemed job of international peacekeeping if the regime does not abide by the decision of the Fiji Court of Appeal.
Yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald as well as the Age, reported that the US government will get Fiji removed from all peacekeeping duties. The papers say: " John Hennessey-Nyland, political and economic councillor for the US embassy, said there would be a `collective effort' by the US and other nations to have the UN remove Fijian peacekeepers from its international operations. That would be another severe blow to Fiji, which has built a reputation on the quality of its peacekeepers."
Fiji joined the UN and US sponsored peacekeeping operations in the Middle East about 20 years ago. Many thousands of Fiji's citizens employed by the army have served in the Middle East. This has given Fiji millions of dollars of revenue. It also gave fame to the Fiji military and many of its officers.
These fame and the achievements were destroyed in 1987 when the military took over government. They were at the risk of again being destroyed last year when some members of the military participated in the terrorist activities trying to overthrow the elected government. But the military as an institution stayed away from the terrorists.
The military has now stated that it will abide by the Court decision and will continue to ensure that law and order is maintained in the country.
The vast majority of Fiji's citizens now look upon the military as the final guarantor of democracy in the country. Indications are that the military will live by this expectation.
Australian sanctions to stay until regime quits
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - 6 March 2001
Australia media report that Australia will keep its sanctions in place until the Qarase regime quits.
Reports in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne's The Age say that Australia has disregarded "an angry demand by Fiji's interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to stay out of Fiji's affairs and give it breathing space". It states further that Australia will "continue sanctions until Fiji returns to constitutional democracy".
The papers report that there "is an additional threat that last Thursday's new agreement to give fresh life to Fiji's struggling garment industry can be removed at any time." The agreement refers to a successor agreement to the Import Credit Scheme for the garment industry. It came into effect on Thursday 1 March.
Even if the Qarase regime "reaches a deal with the Great Council of Chiefs to stay in power" even if this is for a short time, the Australian sanctions will remain. "If that happens", report the papers, "Australia's sanctions - which affect visa arrangements for Fijians travelling in Australia, the aid program, venues for international meetings in the Pacific, sporting contacts and defence cooperation - will remain in place."
PNG welcomes court decision
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - 6 March 2001
Papua New Guinea says it welcomes the Fiji Court of Appeal decision on the validity of the 1997 Constitution.
According to media reports, PNG's Foreign Affairs Minister Bart Philemon stated that the decision gave Fiji an opportunity to put political and ethnic rancour of the recent past behind and rebuild a multi-ethnic Fiji. He also stated that Fiji should resolve its problems in ways consistent with accepted democratic principles.
The Qarase regime had earlier stated that PNG was supporting it. It said that the support which Fiji got at the ACP meeting in Brussels from the then PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Kaputin, was indicative of PNG's support for the illegal regime.
The recent statement by the PNG government has confirmed that there is not a single country in the world which supports the Qarase regime. This is more so in light of the Court decision that the regime is illegal.
Regime admits it can not make decisions
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands - 6 March 2001
The Qarase regime has admitted that it can not make any decision which can be binding.
Today's Fiji Sun quotes regime's Foreign Affairs Minister Kaliopate Tavola as saying that the regime ministers can not make4 any official decision in the running of the country as they have been declared illegal. He stated further that their permanent secretaries are now making all policy decisions.
The Qarase group is meeting the Acting President today to brief him of their interpretation of the Fiji Court of Appeal decision. The Court had declared the regime illegal.
It is understood that one of the recommendations of the Qarase team is for the dissolution of the Parliament, and a new election to be scheduled in August this year, with the Qarase group being given the authority to run the country until the election. This recommendation, publicised by yesterday's Daily Post both in a page one lead article as well in a column written by the paper's Acting Editor, Mesake Koroi. Koroi is close to Qarase.
It, however, is believed that the Qarase regime will have to quit office this week as the President, who had appointed the regime, has stated that he respects the Court decision.
Rape victim put in social welfare care
March 6 2001 - Fiji Times
A 12-YEAR-old girl who was allegedly raped twice in Navua last
year is awaiting the outcome of her first case at Mahaffy Drive
Hostel. Sources at the Social Welfare Department said the victim
was taken to the hostel last week.
"It was quite hard for the father to release her, but we had
to explain to him the laws for this type of case,'' a source
said.
She added the girl was also granted the freedom to visit her
father and sister during weekends, which has been accepted by her
father.
The sisters were looked after by the 50-year-old man, who was
married to their deceased aunt a few years ago.
The elder sister, who is 14, is in school while the victim stays
home with their uncle who they call "daddy''.
It is alleged the girl was raped by their 60-year-old landlord in
Navua on January 29.
An officer at the Navua Police Station said the incident happened
while the girl's uncle went to the landlord's house to watch the
World Rugby Sevens on television. It's alleged the elderly man
went to the victim's house to rest while the two families watched
the rugby at his house. The victim was cooking while the suspect
was relaxing in another room. The victim was grabbed from behind
and her mouth covered by the suspect's hand.
He allegedly dragged her to the floor and raped her, only getting
up to leave when her uncle walked into the kitchen after watching
the games. The suspect's family made arrangements with the
victim's family not to report the incident.
After the arrangements failed, the case was reported but the
suspect fled overseas. Police are awaiting his return for the
case to be taken to court. It is believed this is the second time
the girl has been raped in a year. The first incident was by a
Nabukavesi villager who is being charged with rape and is out on
bail.
Police
impersonator sentenced for rape
Tuesday, March 06,
2001
A man who impersonated a police officer and raped a 17 year-old girl has received a four year and four month sentence. 32 year-old Joeli Bale, who is a nightclub bouncer dressed up as a police officer and told the 17 year-old girl that the police were looking for her. He told her that the police vehicle was parked some way down the street.
However, Bale took the girl to a secluded spot where he raped her before running away. At first, Bale pleaded not guilty but changed his plea after the medical examiner’s report and the girl’s testimony.
He was given a year’s sentence for impersonating an officer for Magistrate Katonivualiku and 3 years and four months for rape. The sentences are to be served consecutively.
(Fiji Times 6-03-01)
Interim administration to
resign
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Interim Prime Minister could resign as early as tomorrow morning following an emergency cabinet meeting earlier this morning.
State lawyers say that the interim government lost its mandate after the court of appeal ruling last Thursday.
However the interim administration could continue as caretaker government until the vice president meets with the Great Council of Chiefs this Thursday.
Baba given PM vote by
coalition
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Dr Tupeni Baba has received support from various parties in the coalition to be Fiji's next PM.
There was a general consensus at the coalition caucus today that the next leader should be an indigenous.
Party of National Unity member Poseci Bune said that they believed that all elected Fijians should get together and identify a leader who can be the PM. Fijian Association Party's Adi Kuini Speed said "Dr Baba is our leader right now".
Adi Kuini said she recommended Baba to be the next Prime Minister. She said the honors were now on Mahendra Chaudhry to courteous and not think of himself only.
Qarase team proposes early
election
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
The Interim Government has decided on a plan after State lawyers briefed Cabinet on options after he Appeals' Court ruling.
One of the options from the Attorney General recommended an early election.
The Interim Government has also offered to step down for transition to take place. The President will now consider the recommendations, together with recommendations from other parties.
The options will be discussed at the Great Council of Chiefs which will advice the President on a further course of action.
Baba is new party leader
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
The FAP says the people’s Coalition now recognises Dr Tupeni Baba as the leader of the coalition.
FAP leader Adi Kuini Speed says majority of the coalition members met last night and agreed that a government of national unity be formed with a new leader.
Adi Kuini said that ousted Prime Minister and labour party leader Mahendra Chaudhry should realise that most of the coalition members want him to hand over the leadership reign to Dr Tupeni Baba.
Prime Ministerial hopeful Tupeni Baba, front right, is escorted by an unidentifed Fijian police inspector away from a Fiji Labor Party's meeting in Suva, Monday, March 5, 2001. As the meeting was stopped, Baba was escorted by police officers to the Suva Cental Police Station. Baba is hoping to wrest control of Fiji's five-party People's Coalition from deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and seize the prime minister's job if parliament is recalled. Monday's meeting was called to discuss the implications of last week's Court of Appeal decision that ruled the current interim government illegal.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Kubuabola for Prime
Minister’s job
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Ratu Inoke Kubuabola is the Soqosoqo Vakavulewa ni Taukei nomination for the party’s choice of Prime Minister under legal government.
SVT party president Ratu Epeli Mataitini said they nominated Ratu Inoke following legal advice they received on last week’s court of appeal ruling.
The SVT said that Ratu Inoke is the only viable alternative Prime Minister and vice president Ratu Josefa Iloilo should invite him to form a broad based government to lead Fiji.
Girmit committee do not
want Chaudhry back
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Organizers of the Lautoka Girmit centre refugee camp do not want Chaudhry to return as PM. Acting camp co-ordinator Beni Sami says they feel this is the best way forward in the interest of peace and racial harmony in Fiji.
"We are awaiting the implementation of the Court of Appeal ruling so they could negotiate claims for compensation from a legal government."
The camp committee said they were very concerned about the future because they are now facing food and financial shortages and are desperate.
Speight and crew to appear
in court
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Hostage taker George Speight and his crew will appear in court tomorrow and it is not known if proceedings will take place in Suva or on their island prison Nukulau.
Chief Justice Salesi Temo said that he wants the group in Suva because of the number of cases pending in his court.
The court chief registrar Musuka Tabete said that a decision was still to be made.
Qarase to meet with Iloilo
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Laisenia Qarase will meet with the acting president Ratu Josefa Iloilo later this afternoon to discuss the outcome of this morning’s special cabinet meeting.
The special meeting was held to discuss the outcome of last week’s Court of Appeal ruling.
Cabinet has made its decision and people will only learn of their stance after the acting president has been informed.
Four candidates for PM
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Four candidates will be nominated for the Prime Ministerial position after interim president Ratu Josefa Iloilo re-convenes parliament says elected prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
Speaking to Radio Australia, Chaudhry said the coalition’s caucus will be nominating its candidate for the position.
"I think what is indicated is that more than one person is interested in the job, in my party there are three of them and the minister (interim) for agriculture (Poseci Bune) makes the fourth one," he said.
"Coalition is intact although we’ve had some problems on this coup, and the decision is that when parliament is recalled this matter will be settled," he added.
While admitting that that there may have been mistakes made by the Coalition government Chaudhry was adamant that the party is still intact.
Chaudhry to be consulted
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
The appropriate person with whom the Great Council Of Chiefs (GCC) should consult regarding who should be appointed as President and Vice President is Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
Section 90 of the constitution provides that the GCC can only appoint the President and Vice President after consultation with the Prime Minister.
Counsel for Chandrika Prasad, QC Geoffrey Robertson said, "a necessary first step in implementing the decision of the Court of Appeal is to recall the parliament elected in May 1999 to enable it to form a government. If parliament proves unworkable because it is unable to form a government and choose a Prime Minister, it should be dissolved and fresh elections held.
"Where there is no Prime Mister due to an unworkable parliament and because an election has been called, an Acting President might be appointed by the GCC until there is a Prime Minister to consult with.
"Apart form these constitutional functions, the GCC has an additional political role of exercising responsible leadership. In this regard, the GCC and its members, like every Fijian citizen, is bound by the rule of law set out in the 1997 constitution.
The constitution grants law-making power only to a democratically elected parliament and sets clear limits to the role that can be lawfully be played by the counsel.
The GCC will meet on Thursday to regularise the appointment of Ratu Josefa Iloilo as President because the Appeals court ruling states that he is only acting in the position since the resignation of Ratu Kamisese Mara on December 15.
The ruling also says Ratu Josefa's term as acting president expires on March 15.
Mr Robertson added that a necessary step in implementing the ruling was to recall parliament to enable it form a government.
Citizens constitutional
forum heat on Council.
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Any decision by the GCC will be taken to court if "illegal members" participate at this Thursday's meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs.
The executive director for the Citizen's Constitutional Forum, Reverend Akuila Yabaki stated in a letter to the chairman of the GCC, Sitiveni Rabuka they would legally challenge any decision if questions about the council's membership were not addressed.
Yabaki said that any member of parliament ceased to be a public office-holder upon the filing of nomination papers for elections.
He said that Article 71 stated that the place of an MP became vacant if the member held a public office.
"Membership of the GCC is a public office established by statute and regulations and so are membership positions at provincial councils or any statutory body. An example of an MP who chairs the Cakaudrove Provincial Council is Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. There are others who may need to be notified now that they cannot attend this GCC meeting because thier membership is legally invalid," Mr Yabaki said.
He said that MR Rabuka had a duty as chairman to ensure the legal basis and integrity of the GCC were not compromised when deciding on on the confirmation of the President and his deputy.
The CCF has also proposed that Ratu Jope Seniloli not be appointed as vice-president because of the police investigations into his involvement in the coup.
Mr Yabaki said that the CCF had sought legal advice and was prepared to go to court if the GCC defied provisions of the 1997 constitution.
Cabinet decides on Fiji's
path
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Today’s special cabinet meeting has been concluded and the direction the government will take following the Court of Appeal ruling has been decided.
FM96 radio station reports that this was confirmed by cabinet secretary Bal Ram.
Bal Ram told FM96 that the cabinet’s decision would be relayed to interim president Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
GCC does not decide:
Chaudhry
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Deposed prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry said the Great Council of Chiefs does not have the legitimate power to to decide on the issue of who should now reside as the government of the day.
His comments follows an ultimatum on the interim administration to hand over the reoigns of power to the legal government or the international campaign on Fiji would begin again.
"Certainly they (the council) do not have any legitimate authority to decide the issue. The excuse being used here is that it is consultation," Mr Chaudhry said.
He said that the legal government would not wait any longer after the weekend stating that the international community has made it quite clear that the interim adminitration must then allow them to reconvene as government.
Chaudhry also claimed that the military was reluctant to return to democracy citing their recent posturing as being pro-interim government.
He said that the chief's meeting was a way for the interim government to drag the issue because they have no intention of surrendering power to are stored government.
Meanwhile Professor George Williams who represented Chandrika Prasad in the recent appeal case, said the council should consult prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
In an e-mailed statement dated Saturday, March 3rd, Williams said: "Section 90 (of the 1997 Constitution) provides that the President and Vice President are both appointed by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga."
"The appropriate person with whom the council should consult, at least until Parliament is recalled, is prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry," Prof. Williams said.
"A necessary first step in implementing the decision of the Court of Appeal is to recall the Parliament elected in May 1999 to enable it to form a government," he added.
Chaudhry not voted out
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Despite a heated discussion regarding the issue of party leadership at yesterday's Labour meeting the caucus decided to avoid further embarrassment for the deposed Prime Minister by not voting him out as leader.
Deposed government whip, Mr Krishna Dutt said that the mood of the caucus was that there should a change. At the most appropriate times, they would much rather have Mr Chaudhry himself step aside so that it will allow us to make otherdecisions.
Dalpat Rathod, a senator in the ousted administration also told the forum that the party needed to choose someone who coud lead agovernment and help take Fiji into the general elections.
However Lautoka based lawyer Mr Haroon Shah moved a motion that the caucus "does not have confidence in Mr Chaudhry to be the Fiji Labour Party leader and the Prime Minister of the Fiji Islands.
The deposed assistant Minister for Fijian affairs suggested that the motion by Mr Shah be amended to read that the party accepted the concept of a government of national unity (GNU) and that Chaudhry step down to allow Dr Baba to replace him.
All suggestions were eventually quashed.
Cabinet meeting underway
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
A special cabinet meeting is currently underway at the interim Prime Minister’s office at the government buildings.
The interim information minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola confirmed the meeting today but would not disclose issues being discussed until after the meeting.
However Ratu Inoke is on record for saying after the Court of Appeal that a special cabinet meeting would be held to discuss the ruling which revalidates the 1997 Constitution.
Sanctions may remain
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
The diplomatic corps have once again confirmed that sanctions will remain in force until Fiji is returned to democratic rule.
Australian High Commissioner, Ms Sue Boyd, the United States Ambassador, Mr Osman Siddique, and the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr Tia Barrett have reiterated their demand for democratic rule or more sanctions will be put in place.
A political and economic councillor for the US embassy, Mr John Hennessey-Nyland said that the US and other nations would also try to have the UN remove Fijian peacekeepers from its international duties if the ruling is not upheld.
The collective decision follows allegations that the interim government may work out a deal to stay in power with the Great Council of Chiefs on Thursday.
Australia will not lift sanctions unless the interim government makes a swift decision on returning the country to democratic rule.
Release George now!
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Treason charges against failed coup leader George Speight may be dropped or reduced as the result of the Court Appeal ruling last week.
Defense counsels Rabo Matebalavu and Vodo Tuberi are expected to file for and seek these options when the case is called later this month.
The new twist in the case came amid mounting pressure from George Speight's supporters that because the 1997 constitution was not abrogated treason charges against the coup makers should not stand.
Court proceedings against George and his cronies had been put on hold awaiting the decision of the Appeal Court. But this will be decided by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Josaia Naguilevu, who was away in the Western Division yesterday.
Mr Tuberi said yesterday that last week's court ruling could be interpreted in many ways by different people.
He was however, reluctant to comment on the possibility of the charges being dropped or reduced.
"I have not read the court's judgement, so I can't say anything.
I'll need to speak with my clients too," Mr Vodo said yesterday
. Police however, said that they will continue their investigation on those who were involved during the take over.
"Nothing will stop us, we'll continue the investigations.
But whether or not the charges will be dropped, that's for the DPP to decide," Director for Criminal Investigation Department Emosi Vunisa said.
The Appeal court last week upheld that the 1997 Constitution is still the supreme law of the country.
It also declared that the Coalition Government led by Mahendra Chaudhry was still the legal government. Speight and at least 13 others have been detained on their makeshift island prison at Nukulau since July last year.
The group are facing treason charges supported by 13 overacts. Some others who were involved facing lesser charges have been released on bail.
In Suva yesterday supporters of the May 2000 coup that ousted Chaudhry's government have called for the immediate release of George Speight and fellow coup makers in line with the 1997 constitution being validated.
"If the 1997 constitution is still valid and Mr Chaudhry is still the legal Prime Minister, then George and his followers did not commit treason," a George Speight supporter said.
"The court had ruled that the May 2000 coup was not effective therefore Mr Chaudhry's government was not overthrown nullifying the Muanikau Accord under which Mr Chaudhry and the hostages were released.
"As such, George and his followers being held at Nukulau are being held illegally.
"We demand that they be released immediately otherwise they are being held without authority or as Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry's political prisoners," the supporter said.
Fiji's Daily Post
Bune's new prime minister?
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Deposed agriculture minister in the People's coalition government Poseci Bune is the new contender for the prime minister's position.
And in a new twist to the coalition leadership struggle, deposed prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry threw his weight behind Mr Bune's candidature.
Coalition sources said Mr Chaudhry was willing to support Mr Bune over others vying for the prime minister's post, including deposed co-deputy prime minister and Fiji Labour Party member Dr Tupeni Baba.
Mr Chaudhry had earlier said he would not be comfortable working in a government which might include people who were allegedly involved in the May 19 coup saying it was a matter of principle.
Mr Bune had also publicly expressed interest for the job, saying he would accept the offer if approached. Some coalition members said Mr Bune was qualified, experienced and an indigenous Fijian.
"He fulfils all the requirements of getting the job. I mean as some have put it, that Fiji needs a Fijian prime minister. When considering that requirement, Mr Bune is a reliable candidate for the job," a member said.
Meanwhile, the rift within FLP is now deepening with Dr Baba reportedly struggling to gather support for himself. Yesterday's party caucus meeting called by Dr Baba was not attended by party leader Mahendra Chaudhry and other members.
Those who attended included: Pratap Chand, Mosese Volavola, Manoa Bale, Ratu Isreli Vuibau, Joeli Kalou, Krishna Datt, Amjad Ali, Gyandra Prasad, Pravin Singh, Anand Babla, Haroon Ali Shah, Vinod Maharaj and Senators Afzal Khan and Dalpat Rathod.
Spokesperson Krishna Datt said the meeting discussed the Appeals Court decision and other general matters. Haroon Ali Shah called for Mr Chaudhry to step down and said it was time for the party to change its leader. Mr Datt, however, said leadership was not an issue as yet.
"The re-convening of parliament is the first step and we will wait for the president, and once parliament is recalled, then we can decide who should lead. But as it is Mr Chaudhry is our legal prime minister."
The meeting resolved that, the Fiji Labour Party parliamentary caucus, in line with its early resolution at Olosara, Sigatoka, hereby unanimously agree to ask his Excellency the President to initiate steps for the formation of a Government of National unity with a multi-party Cabinet under section 99 of the 1997 Constitution.
Fiji's Daily Post
Monday March 5 9:55 PM ET
Two Killed, 13 Hurt in California School
Shooting
By Leonard Novarro
SANTEE, Calif. (Reuters) - After telling disbelieving friends all weekend that he was going to shoot up the school where he was taunted for being skinny, a smiling 15-year-old boy opened fire in his high school, killing two teenagers and injuring 13 other people.
A young girl places flowers at the front of Santana High School March 5, 2001, after a student opened fire killing two and injuring at least 13 people in Santee, a suburb northeast of San Diego, California. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
It was the worst act of violence at an American school since the April 20, 1999 attack by two teenage gunmen at Columbine high School in Colorado in which 15 people were killed and it threw this San Diego suburb of 58,000 into shock and panic.
A stunned Santee Mayor Randy Voepel told a news conference: ''I've been mayor for nine weeks and if I was mayor for 900 years, it would not prepare me for this moment ... We're a town of little leagues, soccer, community meetings ... and this is one of our children.''
He added, ``This could happen in any town in America if it could happen in a town such as Santee. We are America.'' Santee is a suburb of San Diego.
The shooting was the latest of more than a dozen incidents of gun violence to have claimed casualties in American schools in recent years, including multiple killings in Oregon, Arkansas, and Kentucky, as well as Colorado.
Police said the suspect -- a high school freshman treated like a weakling by some of his classmates because of his small frame and scrawny looks --- used a .22 caliber revolver, which he reloaded once after emptying its chambers to shoot people at random in a hallway and boys' bathroom of Santana high School.
At first the students at the 1,900-pupil school thought a cap pistol was going off. But as students fell bleeding, they realized it was a gun and they started fleeing the school in droves.
As they ran one way screaming, San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Ali Perez and three other officers headed the other way -- where they cornered the unidentified teenage gunman in a boys' restroom. He gave up without incident.
``When we found him, he was inside the bathroom in a kneeling position with his hands out (holding) the butt of the gun. He dropped it and surrendered,'' Perez told reporters.
Then when the boy heard that police were searching for a possible second suspect, Perez said, ``He looked up from the bathroom floor and said 'It's only me.'''
Several people -- most of them students -- were wounded after a gunman opened fire inside a high school in Santee, CA., a suburb of San Diego, on March 5, 2001 police said. (Reuters Graphic)
Off-duty San Diego police officer Robert Clark, who was at the school to register his daughter, took part in the arrest and said he found two shot students in the stalls of the bathroom -- one who was conscious and speaking and the other ''unresponsive.''
Police said two of the shooting victims were killed. They were identified as Brian Zuckor, 14, and Randy Gordon, 15. One student reportedly died at the scene of the attack. The other died later at a local hospital.
A Quiet Suburb
The shooting just before 9:30 a.m. PST (12:30 p.m. EST) at Santana High School in this suburb about 10 miles northeast of San Diego.
The shooter had apparently told several friends over the weekend of his plans but no one believed him or reported him to authorities, according to accounts from students.
Police said they were still investigating and would not comment. Although they said the youth would be charged as an adult with murder, they declined to reveal his name.
Josh Stevens, 15, who identified himself as the boy's closest friend, told local television stations that the youth joked all weekend that he was going to go to school and shoot people. ``He had it all planned out but at the end of the weekend he said he was just joking. I would never have thought he would have had the nerve to do it.''
Another friend, Neil O'Grady said the youth was always picked on at school because ``he's scrawny. He was telling us how he would bring a gun to school and we thought he was joking.'' Witnesses to the shooting said he was ``grinning'' or ''smiling'' as he fired.
Chris Reynolds, an adult who knew the alleged shooter, said the boy began talking about the violent plan over the weekend and that he even frisked him before he left for school but found nothing.
``Everybody kind of thought he was joking around,'' Reynolds told a television reporter from local station KGTV.
Reynolds said the suspect was often the butt of jokes at school, but that he usually replied with a joke and smile. ''He's a kid who gets picked on a lot because he does not stand up for himself. Most of the time he just takes it. He is joking around about it ... I didn't think he was serious.''
Police Search For Motive
San Diego County Sheriff William Kolender said. ``We do not know the motivation. We do not know the motive at this point.''
President George W. Bush (news - web sites) decried the shooting as ``a disgraceful act of cowardice,'' while Calif. Gov. Gray Davis (news - web sites) and his wife Sharon expressed sorrow and horror over the attack -- noting that Santana High School was Sharon Davis' alma mater.
San Diego County District Attorney Paul Pfingst said that the boy would be arraigned Wednesday and would face charges in adult court thanks to California's Prop. 21, a youth crime initiative voters passed last year. It mandates adult trials for juveniles 14 or older charged with murder or specified sex crimes.
``Obviously in light of the fact there are a number of deceased, we are looking at murder as the most serious charge,'' Pfingst told a news conference. ``This is a sad day for all of us.''
``I Thought It Was Firecrackers But It Wasn'T''
Student Amy Barney said the shooting came as a surprise. ``I thought it was firecrackers but it wasn't, it was bullets,'' Barney said. ``I saw a guy laying on the ground, and then I started hearing things. All my friends were like running and I was like, where is everyone going?''
Alicia Zimmer, another student at the school, told KGTV that the gunshots broke out as classes were changing. ``I was probably about 10 feet away from a couple of the victims ... it was in the middle of the hall, the small quad .... I saw a victim, a boy, laying on the floor, with his face downward. There was another girl standing there with blood all over her arms,'' Zimmer said.
``A lot of people were standing around in a circle looking at the girl ... all of a sudden we heard more shots go off. It sounded more like a cap gun than anything.''
``It was really scary. Everybody was running. A whole lot of people were crying.''
Chaudhry
calls to end racism as he returns to Fiji
05.03.2001
SUVA - Fiji's deposed Prime Minister returned to the politically riven South Pacific nation yesterday, calling on Fijians to end racism after a court declared the military-backed regime which replaced him after a coup was illegal.
Mahendra Chaudhry, Fiji's first ethnic Indian leader, said the former British colony faced a moment of truth after the court invalidated an interim government named by the army when failed businessman George Speight took Chaudhry hostage last May 19.
Fiji could choose to be a multi-racial democracy, or hand power to elites who would damn the nation of 800,000 to poverty, he said.
"So long as we think in terms of our own race, our own religion, Fiji doesn't have a future," the former trade unionist told reporters in his modest home outside the capital Suva.
"Somebody has got to raise their voice for those people who are in fact deprived of their civil and political rights. It is time for the people of Fiji to decide what they want."
Chaudhry's return to Fiji raised hackles in the tropical heat, where the court's decision sparked fears of a re-run of the violence against the large Indian minority which exploded after Speight's nationalist putsch.
"The army regards Mahendra Chaudhry as a threat to national security, if he returns as prime minister," reported the Sunday Times, quoting unnamed military sources.
The 3800-strong army is reserved for indigenous Fijians and is seen as the real power in Fiji. The military took control while Speight held Chaudhry and most of his multi-racial cabinet for 56 days and did not relinquish power after he was released.
In addition to declaring the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase illegal, the Court of Appeal said on Thursday that the 1997 Constitution, which gave political rights to the 44 percent of Fijians who claim Indian descent, remained the law.
It indicated that the suspended parliament should reconvene to cement a return to constitutional, democratic rule.
Chaudhry, deeply disliked by many indigenous Fijians, said in a trip to India that the ruling meant he was still in charge.
Yesterday, he was more subdued and said a decision on whether he is still Prime Minister lay with his Labour Party and the People's Coalition which formed his ousted Government. He said he had the support of his party.
Qarase originally pledged to abide by the court's ruling. But he now appears to be trying to stall.
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo is due to meet with the Great Council of Chiefs, a cabal of traditional indigenous rulers, on March 8. He would then announce the Government's final response.
Chaudhry's return has whipped up controversy.
"Saint or Satan?" asked columnist Liu Muri. Concluding that Chaudhry's style had been divisive, Muri said he should renounce his claim to office.
"Chaudhry should be man enough to admit that he had an opportunity to make a difference but he has stuffed it up," he wrote in the Sunday Post.
Fiji's first leader to come from the descendants of Indian labour brought in 200 years ago by the British colonial powers to work the sugar plantations, Chaudhry won office in 1999.
But indigenous Fijians are now insisting the Prime Minister's post be reserved for a Fijian in order to guarantee stability.
Chaudhry said that would not be acceptable.
"I will never submit to racism in any form," he said. "If it's simply because I'm an Indian that I'm not wanted as a leader, then that is racism of the South African type."
Chaudhry and other deposed parliamentarians, meanwhile, say they have enough signatures to reconvene the chamber and pick a prime minister, noting the Council has no say in that.
Chaudhry may also face internal dissent. The Labour Party will meet next week and might pick a new coalition leader.
"There is going to be those who strongly support him and those that, well, reflect the views of the current political situation," deposed co-deputy prime minister Tupeni Baba, an indigenous Fijian, told the Sun newspaper.
- REUTERS
Fijian group refuses to accept court ruling
ABC News Australia - 4 March 2001
A group of
hardline Fijian nationalist parties say they will not accept a
court ruling dismissing the nation's interim government and
restoring its multi-racial 1997 Constitution.
Earlier this week, Fiji's Court of Appeal ruled that the interim
government was illegal and ordered President Ratu Josefa Ilo Ilo
to recall Parliament.
The Fiji forum says it will not accept the reinstatement of Prime
Minister Mahendra Chaudhry's government which was ousted last
year in a nationalist coup.
Its chairman, Esira Rabuno, says it will only recognise the Great
Council of Chiefs.
The interim government is due to consult with the Council next
week but both the interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and the
President have agreed to abide by the court's decision.
Consequences
A court ruling declaring Fiji's military-backed Government
illegal could have far-reaching consequences for other
Commonwealth nations where democratic rulers have been ousted,
lawyers said yesterday.
In their ruling, the Commonwealth judges decided that the
"doctrine of necessity", which military leaders cite to
allow them to restore order, erect road blocks and announce
curfews, does not allow them to abrogate constitutional law.
"The extra-constitutional action authorised by that doctrine
is essentially of a temporary character and it ceases to apply
once the crisis has passed," the court said in its judgment.
"The doctrine of necessity does not authorise permanent
changes to a written constitution, let alone its complete
abrogation."
Lawyers specialising in Commonwealth law said the ruling set a
precedent that could be a powerful, bloodless weapon for
democracy campaigners in military-run states, such as Pakistan.
Pakistan army chief General Pervez Musharraf has ruled Pakistan
since he ousted President Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless October
1999 coup.
"It's a principle that will apply in other potential crises
where there's a takeover of authority," George Williams,
co-counsel for the case against Fiji's interim administration,
said.
"This case is really very, very important because it pushes
the law further than it's ever been pushed before. This is the
first case ever in which a court decision might lead to the
undoing of a coup."
John Cameron, a Perth-based barrister who tried to bring a
similar case to court in Fiji during two earlier nationalist
coups in 1987, said it was a "landmark" ruling.
"The law of necessity will apply to other Commonwealth
countries such as Pakistan," he said.
"It could also set a precedent in broader international
law."
A former British colony, Fiji remained in the 54-nation
Commonwealth after winning independence in 1970. It was suspended
after the 1987 coups, rejoining in 1997.
The collection of 320 mainly unpopulated islands was expelled
again after Speight seized then prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry
and most of his multi-racial cabinet on May 19, declaring himself
a champion of indigenous Fijian rights.
The military stepped in as mobs targeted the Indian minority - 44
per cent of Fiji's 800,000 people.
Using the doctrine of necessity, the army declared martial law,
pronounced the abrogation of the 1997 Constitution, and appointed
an interim administration.
The interim administration held on to power when Mr Chaudhry was
released by Speight after 56 days.
Illegal
The Court of Appeal, sitting in the Fijian capital Suva, decided
the interim administration was illegal, Parliament should
reconvene and the 1997 Constitution remained the law.
Fiji's interim Government is studying the ruling and interim
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo will meet the Great Council of
Chiefs, an enclave of traditional indigenous rulers, on March 8
to determine the authorities' final response.
The powerful military has kept silent.
