Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji military demands removal of police commissioner Hughes - report

Posted at 23:06 on 15 November, 2006 UTC

Fiji’s military commander is reported to have demanded that the prime minister remove all those implicated in the 2000 coup from holding office in his government.

Fiji TV reports that Commodore Bainimarama has also told Laisenia Qarase to order police to suspend all investigations into his recent public statements.

As well, he wants the country’s Australian police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, removed, the Police Tactical Response Unit disbanded and three controversial legislative Bills dropped.

The demands are contained in a letter sent to Mr Qarase as conditions on which Commodore Bainimarama will agree to meet the prime minister and the mediation committee appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs.

Commodore Bainimarama says the mediation committee will be given the same letter sent to Mr Qarase.

Commodore Bainimarama says if the prime minister agrees to the demands, the military will support the current government, or else it will re-ignite calls for its resignation.

On any possible meeting with Commissioner Andrew Hughes, Commodore Bainimarama says he wants it to be on the record that he will not meet anyone who wanted to remove him or who is investigating him.