Fiji lifts emergency imposed after December coup

Suva, June 1: Fiji's state of emergency, imposed following a coup in December 2006, was lifted today, but the country's coup leader and now prime minister warned Fijians that anyone causing public alarm would be arrested.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said the Public Emergency Regulations (PER), which had been extended each month, were no longer necessary to ensure the safety of Fijians.

''It was to provide safety for the citizens of our country and safeguard private property and basically to move the country forward peacefully with minimum civil unrest and disruption,'' Bainimarama said last night.

But Bainimarama, who is also the country's military chief, warned Fijians against creating any public unrest.

''Such persons shall be liable to be investigated, arrested and charged by the Fiji Police Force,'' he said.

Bainimarama toppled elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in a bloodless coup on December 5, 2006, claiming Qarase's largely indigenous government was corrupt and too soft on those responsible for a previous coup in 2000.

The military strongman was sworn in as prime minister in January by a president he appointed. He has promised to hold elections in 2010.

Bainimarama's coup drew international condemnation, with Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the United States imposing economic, diplomatic and defence sanctions.

A former British colony, Fiji had its Commonwealth membership suspended in protest at the coup, just as it did after two similar upheavals in 1987 and again in 2000.

Reuters>