Fiji military chief warns troops will ensure security

Fiji's military commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has warned the country's security is under threat following the release from jail of Vice-President Ratu Jopi Seniloli.

The Commodore has told the Fiji Times newspaper the military was ready to protect the security of the state.

Bainimarama's interview with the paper marked deepening tension following last week's release of the vice-president three months into a four year jail sentence.

On May 19, 2000, now convicted traitor George Speight and a group of special forces soldiers seized the government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, the country's first ethnic Indian leader, and held them hostage for 56 days.

Early in the coup Seniloli usurped the role of president, then the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, and swore in a rebel government.

Since his early release from jail last week on a health-related parole scheme, Seniloli has resigned from the post but Bainimarama said the affair had threatened national security.

Bainimarama said the military's main concern was to discourage political violence, ensure that justice and the rule of law was respected, and that the rise of racial arrogance stemming from the coup "is contained".

"The military is here to ensure stability is maintained," he told the Fiji Times.

He said he would issue more information this week on how Seniloli's release threatened national security.

Bainimarama said the military was not interested in politics but the main issue was security.

"Unfortunately, the government thinks we are out there to attack them outright and they have made statements that are totally unwarranted. What are they afraid of?" he asked.

Last week, the military condemned Attorney General Qoroniasi Bales' decision to free Seniloli, putting him on supervised release.

A military statement at the time warned those in power not to manipulate the law to achieve hidden agendas.

The military statement prompted angry scenes in parliament, particularly from the minority nationalist Conservative Alliance which had been set up after the coup by Speight supporters.

"What does the military have to with this?," Alliance leader and Speight's bother, Savenaca Tikoinasau, yelled out several times.

"This is none of their business."

Bale told Parliament the government was not scared of the military.

"The military can only threaten us because they have guns," he said.

Bainimarama has been a key figure in Fiji for the past four years.

Little known outside the country, 10 days after Speight seized Parliament, Bainimarama declared martial law and effectively ran Fiji through the hostage crisis and for another year using an interim civilian government led by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

In June last year, Bainimarama warned of unfinished business in Fiji.

His power was not diminished by democratic elections in 2001 and toward the end of last year Fiji slipped into a crisis amidst claims that Bainimarama had been preparing to overthrow Qarases government if they refused to extend his term as commander.

In May this year Qarase announced a commission of inquiry into Bainimaramas actions, but several days later in unexplained circumstances President Josefa Iloilo gave a radio address cancelling the inquiry.

Meanwhile, it is expected that the chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), Ratu Ovini Bokini, will become the new vice president.

He was nominated by Iloilo but it has to be confirmed by the GCC which is made up of the indigenous traditional leadership.

Fiji, which has a population of around 840,000, has a large military force of around 10,000 strong, made up mainly of infantry which has been used around the world on peacekeeping operations.

A 155-strong military contingent is currently establishing itself in Iraq to provide protection for the United Nations headquarters.

- AAP