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FIJI: TRIBAL CHIEFS FRUSTRATE NEW REGIME December 8, 2006
Zainab Osman
(SomaliNet) Fiji's military regime struggled with its "clean-up" campaign on Friday as powerful tribal chiefs dug in against coup leader Frank Bainimarama's push to establish a new order. In a sign of mounting resistance, the military said its post-coup operation was not proceeding as expected, and the reinstatement of the country's president would be delayed.
Military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni said Bainimarama would not ask Fiji's powerful Great Council of Chiefs, which must reappoint the president Bainimarama temporarily replaced on Tuesday, to convene until the country returned to normal.
In announcing he had toppled the government of Laisenia Qarase on Tuesday, Bainimarama said he was assuming presidential powers until next week when the GCC would reappoint President Ratu Josefa Iloilo. But chiefs have resisted his attempts, and GCC chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini denied reports that he had commissioned a mediator to set up a meeting with Bainimarama.
Hundreds of villagers have also blocked the entrance to Tavualevu village, where Bokini lives, to stop soldiers entering. "We are not going to see this happen. We will protect our chief," village spokesman Apisalome Ulusova said. In yet another defiant statement, ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase warned any public servant who obeyed directions from the military would be breaking the law.
The international campaign of isolation against Fiji is also ramping up, with the Commonwealth likely to suspend Fiji's membership at a meeting in London on Friday. Meanwhile, the European Union has warned of possible cuts to its 23 million euro ($A38.81 million) aid commitment to Fiji.
Australia, New Zealand and the United States have already slapped sanctions on Bainimarama's military regime, and as the coup hits tourism hard experts are warning the Pacific nation's economy will collapse. The central Bank of Fiji has also slapped new capital controls and commercial loan limits on the country's banks this week to try to protect foreign reserves and prevent an exodus of capital.
Bainimarama on Thursday said a team would be established to investigate corruption in the deposed government.