DATE=8/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=FIJI / POLITICS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265942
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Deposed Fijian Prime Minister Mahendra
Chaudhry is visiting London as part of his effort
to get world leaders to reject Fiji's new
provisional government, which was appointed after
a coup in May. Correspondent Laurie Kassman
reports from London that Mr. Chaudhry wants
support for his plan to restore democratic rule
to Fiji and stiff economic sanctions if the
interim government refuses.
TEXT: The ousted Fijian leader is calling for the
international community to press Fiji's interim
government to return to democratic rule under the 1997
constitution. Mr. Chaudhry has outlined the plan for
the Commonwealth's Secretary General and will do the
same for British and European Union officials later
this week.
/// CHAUDHRY ACT ///
Our bottom line is the Commonwealth must insist
the 1997 constitution be reinstated. Once that
is done, then within the framework for the
constitution, we will be able to resolve the
crisis.
/// END ACT ///
The 54-member Commonwealth is due to discuss the
Fijian crisis during a ministerial meeting in New York
September 15th.
Mr. Chaudhry describes coup leader, George Speight, as
unstable and confused. And he warns the international
community against bowing to terrorism. Mr. Speight
/// OPT /// - who was arrested and subsequently
charged with treason - /// END OPT /// held Mr.
Chaudhry and other government ministers hostage for
nearly two months.
/// CHAUDHRY OPT ACT TWO ///
It is terrorism of this type that the
international community must have a very
decisive response to. Otherwise, no government
is safe.
/// END OPT ACT ///
The ethnic Indian leader insists Mr. Speight's
emphasis on indigenous rights was just an excuse for
another grab for power.
/// CHAUDHRY ACT THREE ///
This coup had nothing to do with indigenous
rights. It's a very convenient excuse.
/// END ACT ///
The ousted prime minister -- an ethnic Indian himself
-- points out that indigenous Fijians own 83 percent
of the land and make up nearly 60 percent of the
population of 800 thousand. He told a news conference
in London that his government was representative of
the multi-racial population.
The ousted prime minister wants to set a September
deadline for the return to democracy. Mr. Chaudhry
calls for economic sanctions if Fiji's interim
government refuses even if it hurts the economy.
/// CHAUDHRY ACT FOUR ///
The economy has already been destroyed by the
coup-makers. Yes, there will be some pain but I
think that some pain is necessary for the long-
term benefit of Fiji.
/// END ACT ///
The ousted prime minister will take his message to the
European Union in Brussels this week and to the United
Nations in New York later in September. (Signed)
NEB/LMK/GE/KL
29-Aug-2000 11:11 AM EDT (29-Aug-2000 1511 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
