Regime emergency regulation targets Qarase
Title -- 5212 FIJI: Regime emergency regulation targets Qarase
Date -- 6 September 2007
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Fijilive 6/9/07
Copyright - FL
Status -- Unabridged
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EMERGENCY REGULATION IS FOR QARASE, KUNIVUWAI
http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/09/06/06nius8.html
SUVA (Fijilive/Pacific Media Watch): The return of the public emergency regulation
is meant to restrain ousted Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his party
executives from destabilising progress, says interim Prime Minister Commodore
Voreqe Bainimarama.
He said Qarase and his Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) spokesman Peceli Kinivuwai
had been spreading lies about the regime and were not acting in the best interest
of the nation.
"It is solely for that purpose, nothing else," Commodore Bainimarama told Fijilive.
"If they try to speak out and destabilise the country again, then they will be
taken back to the islands. Once that happens, the emergency regulation ends.
"The rest of us just move on with our lives."
Commodore Bainimarama said the regulation was invoked at midday today.
This morning, Commodore Bainimarama said that media reports this week carrying
Qarase and Kinivuwai's allegations of intimidation by the army had hurt the progress
of the interim regime.
Commodore Bainimarama said these were baseless claims and "the easy cure is for
Laisenia Qarase to return to Vanuabalavu - him and his spokesman. They can talk
from there".
Qarase returned to Suva from his home island in Vanuabalavu at the weekend, nine
months since the army removed him from power in a bloodless coup.
Deputy Police Commissioner Eroni Antonio said he was unaware of the return of the
emergency regulation.
Kinivuwai told Fijilive that he was aware of the return of the emergency regulation
and is now cautious about what he says.
"I am aware of it. I have been told not to make anymore comments. I hope you guys
will respect that."
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