Subject: 'austraLasia' #341

FIJI: CALM RETURNS WITH CURFEW. COUP UNRESOLVED

Julian Fox

SUVA: 20th May -- It would be good to announce that the civil coup in Fiji is over. It isn't, but the coup leader and his 20 armed henchmen remain holed up with their hostages in the parliament without any practical support outside the building. The President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, in the absence of his legally appointed prime minister, has assumed control under the constitution and declared a state of emergency along with a curfew for the next fortnight throughout the Republic. There would be no hope that the coup could succeed since the army and police have declared their support for the President. Efforts are being made to resolve the hostage situation without bloodshed. Late thismorning an armed coup member gave the detained prime minister five seconds to 'surrender' before he was shot dead. The prime minister refused and the gunman desisted.

For the rest of the nation, life goes on calmly enough. The spate of rioting and looting through the country has ceased. Suva has been left crippled and businesses will not be able to resume on Monday. Fuel is largely unavailable and food purchases restricted. Buses are not running. A number of schools were burnt down last night and today outside of Suva - Nausori and Rakiraki in particular. Police and army are patrolling the streets in Nausori.

The Salesian community is well outside the Suva city limits, though just nearby Nausori, but there is adequate protection in the vicinity.

It is not expected that the hostage situation can last much longer. The issues that have led to this debacle and to the damage caused to the fabric of Fiji society and to property, will not be resolved quite so quickly. Your prayers are best directed to this end. As soon as the most immediate situation is resolved, I will indicate it.