Bainimarama shoots down crisis talks even before they begin.
Reports from New Zealand this morning say that Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has said that today’s Wellington meeting is likely to be the shortest Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has “ever attended in his life”.
In what was described bu www.stuff.co.nz, as a fiery interview late yesterday Commodore Bainimarama issued a direct threat to the Fiji Government, warning if it sought foreign intervention to quell coup fears it would have to “answer to the consequences”.
He told Auckland-based Indian radio station Radio Tarana, “The army’s not going to stand for any foreign intervention full stop.”
Adding, “If he (Mr Qarase) calls for foreign intervention he personally should be prepared to answer to the consequences.” Commodore Bainimarama also said Fiji had been debating the same issues for six years and suggested today’s meeting with Mr Qarase would not take long, adding, “The meeting’s going to be the shortest meeting he’s ever attended in his life.” “It’s very simple – he comes with a yes or a no to our demands.”
Mr Qarase confirmed he was coming to New Zealand “on a special mission” to meet the military strongman, adding “I am ready to listen to the commander on the concerns of the military.”
NZ Prime Minister Clark said New Zealand had contacted the United Nations and the Commonwealth seeking their help with mediation, however, circumstances had moved quickly and New Zealand would host the talks to see “if there is some way through these issues which doesn’t involve a breach in Fiji’s constitution and a change of government by force”.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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