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| Down Under |
| Fiji military recalls 1,000 reservists for 'clean-up' |
| 2006-11-26 |
| The Fijian military says hundreds of reservists have been recalled to prepare for a "clean-up" campaign, as talk continues of a planned coup. Military commander Frank Bainimarama told fijilive.com that if Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase did not bow to the military's demands to drop all investigations into its officers, the army would act. "What's the big deal about this investigation?" Commodore Bainimarama said from New Zealand, where he is on a private visit. "My intention of removing this Government is clear. If they are going to prosecute me if my clean-up campaign fails, then it is their concern." More than 1,000 territorial force personnel were recalled over the weekend for what Commodore Bainimarama described as preparation for the "clean up" of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's government. He had told the reservists two weeks ago that the Fijian military "is encountering a difficult period and we need to clear the insecurity in the nation". Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said last Thursday "there is clear evidence he is planning a coup in the next couple of weeks". The hardening of the military's attitude came as the Director of Public Prosecution Josaia Naigulevu confirmed he had passed on to police legal opinion on one of the military files forwarded to his office. "I will not confirm if [we recommended] a charge. It may not help in national security," he told fijilive.com. The seven files on the military forwarded to Naigulegu included one on whether sedition charges could be laid against Bainimarama. Commodore Bainimarama has also warned Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes that he should leave the country now before things "blow up". The military last week issued the Government with a list of nine "non-negotiable" demands that had to be met in two weeks. The demands include dropping police investigations into the sedition charges against Commodore Bainimarama and the sacking of Commissioner Hughes. The military leader said he expected the demands to be met by the time he returned from his two-week trip to New Zealand. Commodore Bainimarama has accused the Government of corruption and lying, and has repeatedly threatened to force it to resign, prompting a failed bid by the Government to replace him at the end of last month. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #2 That's Commode-Door, AP. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-11-26 16:09 |
| #1 It's Commodore Frank!! |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-11-26 11:36 |