[Huey14]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3846967a12,00.html

US voices concern over Fiji situation
01 November 2006
By MICHAEL FIELD

Fiji's military, threatening to overthrow its government, has been explicitly warned by America not to launch any moves against the government.

The strongly worded notice from the US State Department comes as the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase holds crisis meetings after being unable yesterday to remove Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) head Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

The deepening crisis is also causing regional concern with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen, who called on Bainimarama to step down.

"The strong advice we have is the commander must himself follow the Fiji constitution," she said.

"One would have thought that if the president seeks to suspend him then those orders from a legitimate government should be followed."

Fiji capital Suva was calm today but US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement Washington was concerned at what was happening.

Noting the "recent deterioration of civilian-military relations in Fiji and threats of possible action against the democratically elected government by some elements of the Fijian armed forces", he said it was critical the RFMF fully respect constitutional processes, the rule of law and the military's subordination to the lawfully elected leadership of the country.

"Any action by the military to the contrary would severely affect Fiji's stability and its political and economic development," the US State Department said.

"It would also negatively affect Fiji's relations with the United States and other countries and could lead to a suspension of United States assistance to Fiji.

"We urge Fiji's military leadership to refrain from any actions that could be seen as a provocation or threat to the democratically elected government."

The US warning is potentially potent as Washington was strikingly slow in 2000 to condemn the George Speight coup which overthrew the government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. Although the government was seized on May 19, Washington did not formally react until June 2.

Commodore Bainimarama, who is in Iraq, has not reacted to the US warning but in a strikingly belligerent interview with today's Fiji Sun he said he would return soon and free Fiji of corruption.

"I'll be back to see that Qarase and his cronies step down," he said.

Commodore Bainimarama said the army was the only voice of hope for the nation, as the corruptive practices of the Qarase-led government had gone from bad to worse.

"Qarase is trying to weaken the army by trying to remove me," he said.

He told the Fiji Sun the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and the US governments had been supporting corrupt and unconstitutional practices by Qarase.

"These countries are saying it is a democratically elected government," said he said.

"Sure that's fine - but what about the corruptive practices. That means these countries condone such practices.

"What has the EU done about all those unanswered questions about the general election? Can Australia, New Zealand or the US allow people who are involved in the overthrow of a democratically elected government to sit in positions of power?

"What about those coup convicts who went to prison but yet their seat in parliament was kept for them till they come out?

"Will Australia, New Zealand and the US allow that in their country and anyway these countries have not experienced any coups, so they have not experienced that."

The US and Australia have put out high level tourist advisories for their nationals in Fiji but New Zealand's advisory is of a lower level.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said they were currently reviewing the status of the Wellington advisory.


Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama