30 Nov 2006

Fiji military chief dismisses compromises - issues another ultimatum

9:45 pm on 30 November 2006

Fiji's military commander has renewed his call for the government to meet all his demands in total or face a clean-up of the government tomorrow afternoon.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama described yesterday's talks with the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, in Wellington as a failure and added that he had not agreed to anything.

He said if by tomorrow afternoon, the government has not answered to his demands, the military will take it for granted that they have been endorsed to do the cleaning up campaign in Fiji.

Commodore Bainimarama said it will be a peaceful transition because the military does not expect any confrontation or opposition.

He said they will look after everyone of all communities in Fiji.

He said the government's three controversial Bills are the continuation of lies that took the indigenous Fijians to parliament in May 2000.

He said they want to rid of issues that breed these lies.

He said no government minister has ever stood up and said these events were wrong.

Commodore Bainimarama said people have been sent to jail and then taken back on board in the government and in the leadership of the country.

He said they need to get rid of these people, the three Bills and the police commissioner.

He said he will hold the attorney general, Qoriniasi Bale, and the chief executive of the Prime Minister's Office, Jioji Kotobalavu, responsible if there are any deaths or injuries to his soldiers as a result of any foreign intervention.