Australia reinforces its diplomatic mission in Fiji

SUVA, Nov 6: Australia today said it had reinforced its diplomatic mission in Fiji over fears of a possible coup after Fiji's military angrily accused Canberra of flying in mercenaries.

Fiji's political crisis assumed regional proportions when Land Force Commander Colonel Pita Driti accused Australia of breaching sovereignty and threatening security by sending an unspecified number of police he described as mercenaries.

Australia denied the claim, but Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said extra staff were flown to Fiji last Friday with equipment to communicate with two warships sent towards Fiji.

''I'm not going into the details of who they are, but I'm just saying that we need people to assist with coordination and administration, and they obviously need some equipment,'' Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

Driti said the Australians did not clear proper channels and were accompanied by 400 kg (882 lb) of equipment.

Australia and New Zealand have been rattled by the stand-off between Fiji's military and government, which has raised fears of a fourth coup in 20 years.

Driti also criticised New Zealand for sending four police officers to bolster security at its High Commission in Suva.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark reacted angrily, saying Wellington had informed the Fiji government and police.

''Frankly, in what normal country would you go and ring the military and say, 'Is it alright if we send four police officers to provide security at the High Commission?','' Clark told Newstalk ZB radio network.

Australia was accused at a Pacific summit in Fiji last month of being a regional bully by linking its billion-dollar aid programme to good governance but Clark is usually seen as a more moderate voice in the region.

MUTINY TRIAL

Australia has warned outspoken Fiji military chief Frank Bainimarama not to move against Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase -- whom he has threatened to remove over two contentious pieces of legislation -- because another coup would hurt outside investment and the tourism on which Fiji's fragile economy relies.

Australia last week sent two warships towards Fiji in case it needed to evacuate some of the 7,000 Australian holidaymakers there.

It said the ships would not enter Fijian territory without being asked.

Bainimarama made the threat three weeks ago and returned to Fiji on Saturday after visiting Fijian troops in West Asia. He will meet Qarase this week as well as Fiji Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes, an Australian, in an attempt to ease tensions.

Qarase softened his stand on Saturday, saying a key provision that would have given amnesties to some of those behind the May 2000 coup by armed indigenous nationalists had been dropped from one of the two contentious bills.

The trial of Sitiveni Rabuka, the former army chief who launched two coups in 1987, on charges of attempting to incite a failed but bloody army mutiny in November 2000 began today.

The mutiny, from which Bainimarama barely escaped with his life, was linked to the May 2000 coup. Bainimarama installed Qarase as interim leader in a bid to end that coup but now accuses him of being too lenient on those behind it.

Rabuka, who has pleaded not guilty, could face a life sentence.

Supreme Court judge Justice Gerard Winter imposed a 24-hour home curfew on Rabuka for the course of the trial and also ordered the former prime minister not to speak to the media.

Reuters