Subject: 'austraLasia' # 340

FIJI: A VIEW FROM INSIDE

Julian Fox

SUVA: Friday 19th May -- At precisely 10.35 thismorning, seven armed men walked into the Parliament building of the Republic of the Fiji Islands and took the Government of Mahendra Chaudry's People's Coalition hostage. This occurred while the Taukei Movement, an indigenous movement that has been calling for the removal of the elected Government for some months now, held a large march in the city. The march had been swelled by very large numbers and had distracted all attention away from parliament as such, where the 'real' action was to take place. The armed men in parliament have separated the Indian and Fijian members of Government and as I write, have them under house arrest. Former coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka has endeavoured to convince present coup leaders to desist, and return the country to normal law and order and democratic processes. In the meantime a state of emergency has been declared throughout the Republic, Suva City...what is left of it after the looting and arson...has been declared off-limits to all but police and emergency personnel. The Fiji Military Forces as of a few minutes ago (7.30 p.m.) have requested all serving members to report to barracks and to be prepared for up to 21 days of service.

Looting and rioting has occurred in the city, but as police had rushed to parliament, it apparently left no police in town to control the situation there. The army has until now been standing by, uninvolved. Riot police have been subsequently sent into the city to bring things under control there. A curfew has now been put into place in Suva, and foreign nationals, in particular, have been advised to keep off streets and away from villages.

Fiji has endured two military coups a little over 12 years ago. The erstwhile coup leader, Sitiveni (Steve) Rabuka, was eventually elected prime minister after quitting his role as leader of the Fiji Military Forces. Earlier last year, his government was defeated in an election democratically held under the new 1997 Constitution. This Constitution allows for the Prime Minister to be of a race other than indigenous Fijian, though the President must be indigenous. The present prime minister, Mahendra Chaudry, is a Fijian born Indian, former union head and leader of the Labor Party. His government has possibly come to grief over the vital issue of land, 83% of which is under indigenous (clan) ownership. Indians however make up 42% of the population.

The Salesian community is located some 17 kms from the city centre, along the main road to the airport. This area is quiet presently. Some looting has taken place outside the city, but not in the area where the Salesians reside. Police Posts are located anyway at strategic points along this road as a normal course of events, and it is possible to close all of Suva down via these posts since there are very few roads leading into or out of the city.

'austraLasia' will keep you in touch with events as they unfold