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FIJI: MILITARY TO SUPPRESS ANY UPRISING December 6, 2006
Zainab Osman
(SomaliNet) Fiji's military chief warned on Wednesday that troops would quickly suppress any uprising, as the country's deposed prime minister called for non-violent protests after Fiji was hit by its fourth coup in 20 years.
"We have reasonable grounds to believe that the life of the state is being threatened," Commander Frank Bainimarama told a news conference after declaring a state of emergency. "Should we be pushed to use force, let me state that we will do so very quickly. The military will suppress very quickly any uprising against us," he said.
Bainimarama staged a bloodless coup on Tuesday after a year-long power struggle with Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, whom he accuses of being too soft on those behind Fiji's last coup in 2000. Qarase, under military escort, was flown back to his island home on Wednesday.
Qarase has called on Fijians to stand up for democracy and expects non-violent demonstrations against the military within days. Hundreds of Fijians rallied outside Qarase's Suva home after the coup on Tuesday.
Australia and New Zealand have called for people power to restore democracy to Fiji.