Downer says clear evidence that Fiji coup could happen within two weeks.
In an interview on Lateline last night, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that here is clear evidence that Fiji’s military chief, Commander Frank Bainimarama is planning a coup to overthrow the Fijian Government.
Bainimarama this week repeated a threat to remove Qarase’s government if it did not drop several planned bills, including one that would grant amnesty to those involved in a 2000 coup and Minister Downer said he had spoken to Qarase and was very concerned that Bainimarama planned to move against the government within two weeks.
Downer told Lateline, “There’s clear evidence he’s planning a coup in the next couple of weeks and he made a public statement along those lines yesterday.”
There have been threats of a fourth coup since 1987 in Fiji but recent reports said the threat had appeared to have receded with Bainimarama claiming to be aware of the potentially disastrous repercussions for the country’s vital tourism industry.
On Tuesday Bainimarama issued Qarase’s government a list of demands, which he described as “non-negotiable”, including dropping the amnesty bill, saying he expected the demands to be met by the time he returned from a two-week trip to New Zealand.
Downer added, “Bainimarama still seems intent on returning to Fiji and at some point overthrowing through military means the elected government of Fiji.” Reports also say that when Bainimarama returns he will face charges of sedition.
Local media reports that the capital, Suva, was tense yesterday with Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes, close to laying sedition charges against Bainimarama over his threats to remove Qarase, with Bainimarama’s list of demands including Hughes’ removal.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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