Fiji military chief threatens government

SUVA, Oct 17 (Reuters) Fiji's military commander has given Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase an ultimatum to drop plans for an amnesty deal for those involved a 2000 coup or be forced from office, media and senior military officials said today.

Commander Frank Bainimarama said he was not threatening another coup but said he would force Qarase to resign if he did not drop an indigenous land bill and the amnesty bill.

''We don't need any special powers to legalise our move in demanding the government to resign,'' Bainimarama told the Fiji Times newspaper while touring Fijian troops in the West Asia.

''We don't have to take over because the military will walk into the office of the prime minister and demand his resignation,'' Bainimarama said in a Fiji Times report today.

''If the people want us to do this, we will do it. At this stage Fiji needs good governance and the military will demand for their resignation. There is nothing illegal about this.'' Racially-divided Fiji has been rocked by three coups and an army rebellion since 1987 because indigenous Fijians fear losing political control of their nation to ethnic Indian Fijians who dominate the sugar and tourism economy. Indigenous Fijians make up 51 per cent of the 906,000 population.

Bainimarama has previously threatened the military would act if Qarase's government passes a law offering amnesty to those involved in a 2000 coup in return for evidence about the coup.

Failed businessman George Speight is serving a life jail term for leading the coup, which toppled Fiji's first ethnic Indian prime minister, but many in Fiji believe more senior people were behind the upheaval.

Bainimarama appointed Qarase as interim prime minister of an all-indigenous administration which saw Speight end the 2000 coup.

Qarase has won two subsequent elections.

But the military chief and prime minister have had an uneasy relationship for several years, with Bainimarama urging his troops not to vote for Qarase in the last election in May.

Bainimarama told the Fiji Times that the South Pacific nation was ''crying out for justice'' and good governance.

Besides the amnesty bill, Bainimarama is also opposed to Qarase's plans for a new land law enshrining indigenous ownership of coastal land, saying it would hurt Fiji's tourism industry.

''What we are trying to tell the government is if they can't give good governance then move aside and let some other people come in and take the nation forward,'' he said.

''The military is not going to hang around.'' Senior military officers confirmed the ultimatum. ''The statement was made by the commander and the military supports the commander,'' military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni told Reuters.

Fiji's Home Affairs Minister Josefa Vosanibola said the government would seek advise from the president on whether judicial action could be taken against Bainimarama.

''The government has a role to play in the running of the country and they (the military) should respect authority as we have been put in power by the people,'' he said.

Australia issued a Fiji travel warning today, citing the potential for civil unrest and political tension.

Reuters SP DB1341