7 Jul 2007

Fiji interim PM says he won't be bullied into general election

8:39 am on 7 July 2007

Fiji's interim prime minister says general elections will not be held just to please the international community.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama has told Radio Legend that the interim administration can only decide on the date for elections after it has fulfilled President Iloilo's mandate.

He says elections can be held by March 2009 if everyone in the country co-operates.

The Commodore says it will not happen if there are people waving their arms in Hong Kong and Canberra, lawyers signing petitions and travel sanctions from New Zealand against people who want to take Fiji forward.

He says the President's mandate includes an exit strategy for those in the interim administration, which is understood to mean immunity from prosecution for Commodore Bainimarama and his troops.

The mandate also covers the completion of the military's clean-up campaign, reforming the economy for growth, reduction in poverty levels, proper electoral systems and a review of the Native Lands Trust Board among a host of other objectives.