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Fiji update
The Fijian Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, will hold talks with his powerful military chief today in an attempt to end a tense stand-off in the politically unstable Pacific nation.
The Military Commander, Commodore Bainimarama sacked his national land forces commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Jone Baledrokadroka, on Friday and accused him of planning to take over the army and making death threats.
Colonel Baledrokadroka denied he had threatened to shoot his commander, but told the Fiji Times newspaper he had asked Commodore Bainimarama to step down and to stop intervening in politics.
“When we met I asked the commander for his resignation on the grounds that it was perfectly clear that he was going to commit treason.”
Commodore Bainimarama stood his ground, relieving Colonel Baledrokadroka of his command on Friday and sending him on indefinite leave.
Commodore Bainimarama said that Baledrokadroka made his intentions known to other Senior Military Officers which caused unnecessary tension amongst the officers.
He said the Military remains united and are behind him all the way.
Meanwhile, the Great Council of Chiefs has said it will not step in to resolve the impasse between the Government and the military.
Council of chiefs chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini said the chiefs had not planned for any meeting with the Government or military commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
“The GCC will not intervene with the situation that is being faced by the Government and the military. The only thing we will do now is to observe what happens before we can plan what to do,” Ratu Ovini said.
Ratu Ovini said the GCC believed good sense would prevail.
The Australian Government has warned visitors to Fiji to be aware of the security situation, but Fiji police and the tourism authority said it was business as usual.
Graham Muldoon
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