SUVA, Fiji (1 June 2000) -- Racist rebel leader George Speight, who declared himself prime minister early in the hostage crisis, is firmly in control and dictating his political agenda to Fiji's military commanders. Military leaders are reluctant to put up any real opposition to Speight whose cause appears to have widespread support among indigenous Fijians including a large number of soldiers and police. Commodore Bainimarama quickly withdrew his choice for a new president after Speight rejected the candidate and told the military to back off. "I'm telling the military to back off. The military came in at the 12th hour. They have effectively performed a coup within a coup and I find that quite ironic," said Speight who refuses to recognize the authority of Commodore Bainimarama. | | Racist rebel leader George Speight: "We will not be deterred by multiculturalism" Two weeks into the coup, Speight has succeeded in ousting the prime minister and president, removing the 1997 constitution which restored equality to ethnic Indians, winning amnesty for the rebels and rejecting the appointment of Ratu Epeli Nailatikau as Fiji's interim president. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
