FIJI: NEW PM QARASE TAKES POWER

(4 Jul 2000) English/Nat
Four Fiji nationalist rebels were injured on Tuesday as shooting broke out between Fiji's military and rebel hostage takers who are holding 27 members of the ousted Indian-led government at gunpoint.
It was not clear what triggered the gunfire although the clashes came after rebel leader George Speight stressed the new civilian government would not last for long.
The hostage takers, led by former insurance executive George Speight, have been holding the ousted government for more than six weeks.
They claim to have taken the action as part of their battle for indigenous Fijians' rights and had wanted a decisive role in selecting the new government.
But, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the country's military leader - who assumed power 10 days after rebels stormed parliament on May 19 appointed the interim leaders without input from the gunmen.
No members of the Indian minority are in the new government.
In a speech after being sworn in as Fiji's new Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase said he accepted the job as a \"call for national unity\".
He urged the gunmen to release the hostages immediately so Fiji can begin rebuilding its shattered economy.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"If we allow the crisis to continue the Fiji economy will be ruined. Companies will close down, a lot of people will lose their jobs. There will be food shortages, we will run out of medicines. Government will not be able to collect sufficient revenue to provide normal services and sporting bans will continue.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Laisenia Qarase, Fiji's new Prime Minister
According to Bainimarama the hostage crisis has cost Fiji 5,000 jobs, 96 million (U-S) dollars in lost exports, 96 million (U-S) dollars in lost revenues and untold losses in talent by people who have fled the country.
Qarase urged the country to stand firm against the hostage takers.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"I make a final plea to them. Please release the hostages. And to all citizens of our country I renew my plea of charity for all and with malice to no one. Let us strive forward together. May God bless you all.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Laisenia Qarase, Fiji's new Prime Minister
But, rebel leader George Speight believes the army will exercise overall control.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"What's going to take place now, on the back of the announcement of the interim government, which nobody in Fiji wants or rather most Fijians don't want, is that the respective high chiefs around Fiji will exercise their authority to command their young men in the army, to come out of the army. And as that takes place over the next few days I'm sure, Commander Bainimarama will find himself in command of an army which has no men!\"
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, Rebel Leader
Without this support, he says the civilian government will soon face collapse.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"I think the interim civilian government has a very short life - life span\".
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, Rebel Leader
The interim government will rule for 18 months and set guidelines for a new constitution.
Qarase is known more as a manager than a politician, although he once served in Congress.
He has been head of the Merchant Bank of Fiji and is a former director of the Fiji Development Bank.
Indians were brought to Fiji over a century ago by English colonialists seeking indentured labourers for rich sugar cane fields.
Today, they make up about 44 percent of Fiji's population, while indigenous Fijians account for about 51 percent.
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[@salanietavunaki1213]

You didn't think of your future by spending it imprisonment........!