Military moves to stop mob rule in Fiji capital

By STAFF REPORTERS

SUVA - Fiji is today under military rule as the Army attempts to end the hostage crisis and impose control in a country reeling from mob violence.

Announcing martial law late last night, the head of the armed forces, Commodore Frank Bainamarama, said: "All the nation has been saddened by the extent to which the country has fallen during the last week. I have therefore, with much reluctance, assumed executive authority."

President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who two days earlier had appointed himself interim ruler and dismissed elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, quit before martial law was imposed.

There were conflicting reports last night that Ratu Mara and his family had either been moved to the safety of a naval vessel in Suva Harbour or had sought safety in the military headquarters in the capital.

Commodore Bainamarama, a slight man wearing a plain uniform with no military ribbons, walked almost sheepishly to the podium at a hastily called news conference to announce the country's third military takeover and the suspension of its democratic constitution.

Mr Chaudhry, Fiji's first ethnic Indian Prime Minister, has been held at gunpoint by rebel leader George Speight, who stormed Parliament on May 19.

Last night, a New Zealand journalist said he had been told by officials that the Army would take a hard line with Speight, who is holding 30 hostages inside Parliament, including Ratu Mara's daughter. Adi Koila Nailatikau is a minister in the deposed Government.

Independent Radio News political editor Barry Soper said he been told the rebel leader would be expected to leave the parliamentary compound with "his hands up," but there was widespread concern in Suva about how Speight would react.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff said the Government was waiting to see what the Army would do with its power.

"If it's a choice, I'd rather have the Army on the streets than Speight's thugs."

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Speight had threatened to kill Ratu Mara's daughter if the Army used force to free the hostages.

Yesterday evening, soldiers enforced a 48-hour curfew, putting up barricades and taking up positions on the roofs of key buildings as scores of people began to flee Fiji.

The Army, almost invisible in the early days of the crisis, cracked down after a 200-strong mob of rebel supporters armed with guns and knives rampaged through Suva, killing a policeman.

The officer, Filipe Seavula, was shot several times in the back.

Radio reports that Fiji Indians had been warned especially to leave Suva were last night denied by police chiefs.

Telephone lines into the city were clogged as worried relatives in New Zealand tried to get word of families.

Fiji Indians are braced for attacks from nationalist thugs.

A 36-year-old bank manager who spoke on condition of anonymity told how he and his starving family were barricaded in their Suva home. They had run out of food and could not risk leaving home to find supplies.

Speight's supporters have targeted journalists after becoming angry at reporting of the coup.

Yesterday morning, police alerted management of the Centra Hotel that an armed mob was on its way to menace the dozens of journalists staying there.

The hotel was evacuated as the journalists, as well as guests and some staff, jumped into any available vehicle and headed out of town.

The curfew has forced the Fiji Times newspaper to stop production.

On Sunday, a mob descended on the Fiji Television offices, smashing millions of dollars of equipment, putting the station off air.

The New Zealand Government yesterday issued its strongest warning yet to the 2700 New Zealand tourists in Fiji to leave as soon as possible.

More Fiji coup coverage

Under seige: map of the Parliament complex