I’m resolute
Posted in General on 21. Aug, 2010
I’m resolute.” The military and police affirmed their loyalty to Mr Mara, reinforcing the impression that Mr Speight is a maverick with no institutional support for his bid to depose Mr Chaudhry. However, a number of Mr Speight’s associates are said to be members of the armed forces or reservists.The attempted coup took place on the first anniversary of Mr Chaudhry’s election victory and followed months of escalating racial tensions between indigenous Fijians, who make up a slim majority of the South Pacific nation’s population, and Indians, who dominate the government. It led to the declaration of a state of emergency and dusk-to-dawn curfews. A military raid to rescue Mr Chaudhry and his ministers would almost certainly result in casualties, as Mr Speight’s men – estimated to number up to two dozen – are heavily armed.With Fiji on a knife-edge following the events of the last 48 hours, the nightmare scenario is that tensions will spill over into communal violence – particularly if blood is shed inside parliament, currently sealed by tyre-shredders and coils of barbed wire.Suva was awash with rumours yesterday, including reports that ethnic Indians were massing on the west side of the main island, Viti Levu, and preparing to descend on the capital.
Mr Mara, a highly respected figure, promised to “use all the authority and resources at my command to bring about a just and peaceful solution to a tragic chapter in our history”.In a nationwide broadcast, he said: “We will not bow down to threats and coercion. Mr Speight and those who have been misled into supporting him must recognise the reality of their situation and act … while there is still time.”Mr Speight, a shaven-headed, charismatic man, said he was certain that the army would not move against him but warned of “fatal outcomes” in the event of armed confrontation. “When you take up an action like this, you do it with conviction,” he said.
“It is an action that myself and my group are willing to risk our lives for.”Central Suva, where scores of Indian-owned businesses were burnt and looted during riots on Friday, was tense yesterday. Shops remained shuttered and police loudspeakers warned people to stay off the streets. On the main shopping street, Victoria Parade, smoke still billowed from the charred shell of the Govinda Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlour.At the central police station, Fijians of all ethnic types queued for passes enabling them to travel through the roadblocks that have been mounted all over the capital. Awaiting his pass, one indigenous Fijian, Sakiusa Niumataiwalu, said that he welcomed the coup.”Indians are foreign in our country,” he said.. Separatist rebels claimed responsibility Sunday for the death of an Indonesian police officer shot during a clash between rebels and police in the strife-torn province of Aceh. Separatist rebels claimed responsibility Sunday for the death of an Indonesian police officer shot during a clash between rebels and police in the strife-torn province of Aceh.
The officer was killed in a rebel ambush on Saturday in the town of Jantho, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of provincial capital, Banda Aceh, local police chief Lt Col.