Clashes ‘provoked by Bavadra’

Press, 22 May 1987, Page 1

Clashes ‘provoked by Bavadra’

By

ANDREW STONE

in Suva

The military leader of Fiji, Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, yesterday blamed provocative statements by the ousted Prime Minister, Dr Timoci Bavadra, for the Suva riot. Describing the mood of the country as “an uneasy calm,” Colonel Rabuka said clashes between Fijians and Indians in Suva on Wednesday had been provoked by Dr Bavadra’s call for a big prayer rally in Albert Park.

He urged Dr Bavadra and other politicians not to hold public meetings while tension in Fiji remained high. He appealed once more for public calm after the overnight

shooting of an Indian youth by a Fijian. The man was not badly hurt.

Colonel Rabuka called on young Fijians to restrain themselves, saying, “These sorts of things will deepen hatred and division between the two major races.”

In the interview broadcast on Radio Fiji, Colonel Rabuka made it clear that he was calling the shots and that Army rule would remain until his coup objectives had been settled. As far as he was concerned, Fijians would always assert power over Indians. On radio yesterday he said, “I will not agree to anything that will not achieve the aim of the coup.”

To maintain order Colonel Rabuka said he had considered deploying troops to volatile areas which he identified as Suva, Nasori NaVua, Korovou, and Lautoka.

He conceded that the Gover-nor-General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, had been placed in an extraordinary dilemma by the coup.

Ratu Penaia did not recognise his regime, Colonel Rabuka said.

Formation of a republic had been, talked about by the Great Council of Chiefs.

But severing links with the Crown and its wider Commonwealth ties would “not have the support of the Fijian people,” he said.