Indigenous Fijians United In Disliking Indians

Indigenous Fijians Only United In Dislike For Indians, Says Army Commander

Issue No: 188; 9 November 2000

Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama says that the only thing which united the indigenous Fijians is their dislike for Indians.

In an interview statement published in today's Fiji Times the Commander stated that the coup would not have happened if the chiefs had been united. He further stated that national instability would not end unless the chiefs were honest and open with each other. He said that the chiefs said one thing in public and the opposite in private.

Bainimarama also hit out at the actions of Sitiveni Rabuka, who is the Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs.

Rabuka had made his way to the army barracks during the shootout at the barracks. He was not invited by the army.

Soon after the rebels took some soldiers hostage, they asked the radio stations to announce that all officer level military personnel were to go to the military camp for negotiation. It is understood that this announcement was the cue to the other conspirators that they had taken hostages and the others should play their roles. It is understood that one part of the plan was to get villagers from Namosi, Rewa and Korovou to the military barracks in support of the rebels.

Meanwhile, the Vodaphone Fiji Ltd says it is co-operating with the military in providing the phone records of certain alleged conspirators. It said that they were presented with a search warrant and are obliging with the law. Some officer from the military had faxed the Vodaphone instructions to debar all mobile phones from the day of the mutiny.

END 9 November 2000

© Scoop Media