shiorichi's special report

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こんばんは～LEONARDさん♪
私はクーデターの頃３週間------ＦＩＪＩの戒厳令　投稿者：shiorichi 　投稿日： 8月16日
ほどFIJIに居ましたが、私が居たのは、首都のSUBAから少し離れているNADIという所です。ですから、直接銃撃戦を目の前で見るとかの危ない目には会いませんでした！SUBAの危険度が３に変わった時は私が滞在していた、NADIのホテルには大勢の日本人（ジャイカ）の人々が避難して来ました。その人達の話しでは、危なくてクーデターが起きてから一歩も外には出られなかった…そうですが、NADIはそういう意味では比較的安心（？）でした。

ただTV局襲撃後、戒厳令が出た時はさすがに緊張しましたが…
私達が行ったエアパシフィックで帰国した日本人の観光客が最後で、それ以降はまったくといってよいほど、日本人観光客はいなくなりました。…ですから、旅行代理店の現地スタッフの方々も仕事がなくなり、だんだんと帰国していったようです。日本人観光客が来ないので、現地のホテルも閑散としていて、本当に困っていました。ただ、近くのニュージーランドなどから遊びに来ている外国の方は結構いました。NADIの街もガラガラで、襲撃を恐れてシャッターを開けていても半分だけ…とかでまったく、仕事にならないといっていました。

夜間外出禁止令が出ていた為、出かけてもつも帰る時間を気にしなくてはなりません。
帰国前にマナ島に行こうと思ったのですが、日本人経営のホテルがある為日本人に人気だったのですが、すでにCLOSEしていました。仕方なく、South　sea　Isに行ったのですが、島には私達２人だけ！！…もう最高！でした…でも現地の人達の事を考えるとそうそう喜んではいけないのかもしれませんねっ！？

こんな調子なので、観光とサトウキビだけで成り立っている西側の人々はクーデターを起こしたスペイトに対してもとても批判的でNADI近辺では、スペイト出て行け！…と書いた垂れ幕があちこちにかかっていて各地で集会が開かれていました。今回FIJIの事を知れば知るほど、ただのFIJI系とINDIA系の対立ではなく、もっともっと複雑なものだ…と感じました。

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以上です。shiorichiさま、ありがとうございました。

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Standoff in Fiji becomes show of support for coup

World leaders condemn plan to end Fiji rebellion

SUVA, Fiji -- A confrontation between Fiji's military and gunmen holding the island's democratically elected leader Friday became a propaganda coup for the rebels as the soldiers backed down and offered words of support for the insurgents.

Soldiers armed with assault rifles set up roadblocks near the parliament building where the government has been held since May 19, and appeared to be ready to enter the building.

However, coup leader George Speight and some of his gunmen left parliament to confront the soldiers. The rebels took aim at the troops, who then pleaded for their safety and said they supported the coup.

Earlier Friday, the international community condemned a call by Fiji's tribal chiefs for the removal of the island's democratically elected government to resolve the week-old rebellion in parliament.

World leaders said the plan -- outlined Thursday by the Great Council of Chiefs, a ceremonial but influential body -- gave in to terrorism and overstepped the group's authority.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Friday that Fiji would face punitive action if the chiefs allowed the overthrow of the democratically elected government to take place.

"There will be consequences unless the course of action on which Fiji has now embarked changes very dramatically. We will consider that in the appropriate way," Howard said.

After three days of discussions, the chiefs recommended Thursday that the government of Prime Minister Mehendra Chaudhry be replaced with an interim administration; that the nation's constitution be reviewed; and that the rebels holding the government hostage be tried, then pardoned.

Fijian President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara had endorsed the plan, which also recommended that the rebels be allowed to hold positions in the interim government.

Rebels reject proposal

The rebels rejected the proposal, however, saying it did not meet any of their three key demands -- that Mara resign, that the constitution be annulled, and that they receive immunity. The chiefs and rebels were expected to hold additional meetings throughout Friday to try and resolve the standoff.

The gunmen stormed parliament a week ago and took Chaudhry and several Cabinet ministers and legislators captive. Speight said later that he had suspended the nation's constitution and had assumed executive powers.

"It is an act of rebellion and a criminal act, what has occurred to Chaudhry," Howard said.

The rebels, however, have complained of discrimination against majority indigenous Fijians by Chaudhry's year-old, Indian-dominated government. Chaudhry is Fiji's first ethnic Indian prime minister.

Speight, a failed businessman and son of an opposition lawmaker, has demanded constitutional changes to guarantee only indigenous Fijians will be able to hold key government positions -- such as prime minister and president.

Chaudhry's government had been under fire from Fijian nationalists for what they called pro-Indian policies. Ethnic Indians compose 44 percent of Fiji's population of approximately 812,000, while ethnic Fijians account for 51 percent.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the proposal went "well beyond the scope of the powers vested in the Great Council."

"It is only by upholding the democratic process that the long-term stability and prosperity of ... Fiji (and its) international standing can be secured," Annan spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said the United States would legally be bound to impose economic sanctions on Fiji if the crisis was not resolved constitutionally.

"The path Fiji is on, of denying the normal democratic rights to a minority because of their race, is utterly unacceptable to the international community," New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said.

Plan could lead to exodus

A Fiji Cane Growers Association official said the chiefs' plan would cause an exodus of ethnic Indians, which might cripple the island's sugar industry.

The association represents about 23,000 cane farm owners and workers from about 15,000 families. Fiji's sugar export receipts are forecast to be $105 million this year.

"I guess the clear message is that there is no place for Indians in the governing of the country," Jaganath Sami said Friday.

"They want political control, they want control of the land. They want Indians to be economic slaves. There'll be an exodus of Indians wanting to leave," Sami said.