Ousted Fiji ministers seek compensation

The ousted ministers have begun legal proceedings against Bainimarama

August 17, 2000
Web posted at: 10:49 a.m. HKT (0249 GMT)

SUVA, Fiji (Reuters) -- Three ousted ministers from Fiji's deposed government filed suit on Wednesday seeking compensation for being held hostage for nearly two months after a May 19 coup by nationalist rebels.

They also began legal proceedings against former president Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and military commander Frank Bainimarama for their actions taken after the coup led by rebel leader George Speight which toppled the multi-racial government of prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

The ex-ministers lodged a writ of summons in Fiji's High Court in which they sought a declaration from the defendants that they were entitled to compensation "for wrongful capture or arrest and detention."

CNN SPECIAL Follow the Fiji coup with our interactive timeline     MESSAGE BOARD Coup in Fiji

Former public works ministers Deo Narayan and assistant ministers Ratu Isireli Vuibau and Gunasagaran Gounder said they should receive compensation for their time in captivity and full salary entitlements. The writ did not specify how much compensation was being sought.

The plaintiffs said Mara "acted unlawfully, wrongfully and/or unconstitutionally" to prorogue parliament and to declare that Chaudhry was unable to carry out his duties after the coup.

Chaudhry and most of his government were held hostage by the rebels in the parliament complex for 56 days.

The former ministers said military chief Bainimarama, who took control of the country on May 29 after the coup sparked violence and looting, had no lawful right or authority to make laws.

Mara stepped down when the military imposed martial law. He was replaced by Ratu Josefa Iloilo in mid-July.

The former ministers also said Bainimarama and Iloilo had acted wrongfully and unlawfully in entering the Muanikau Accord, which finally secured the release of the hostages by Speight.

Speight won most of his demands for indigenous Fijian control of the country during the prolonged hostage drama, but was last month arrested and has been charged with treason.

Chaudhry, who left for India from Australia on Wednesday in a campaign to rally international support, has demanded his multi-racial government be reinstated.

But new prime minister Laisenia Qarase, who was appointed by Iloilo and is committed to a program of entrenching indigenous rights, has rejected the call as "unrealistic."

The deposed ministers in their writ also said Iloilo had not been lawfully appointed. Iloilo was installed last month with the backing of the nationalist rebels following the Muanikau Accord.

The former ministers also cited Fiji's Chief Justice Sir Timoci Tuivaga in the writ, charging that he had failed to take necessary steps in the interest of justice.

Australia on Wednesday dropped its warning against travel to Fiji, saying some risks remained but that security in the South Pacific nation had improved after a military crackdown on nationalist rebels.

"While the security situation in Fiji has improved recently, it remains uncertain," Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said in its latest consular advice.

Australia also said it had added Fiji to the list of countries whose citizens required visas to transit Australia.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Fiji government calls on deposed PM to end international trips
August 14, 2000
Fiji army preaches peace in rebel stronghold
August 13, 2000
Treason charge filed against Fiji coup leader
August 11, 2000
Deposed Fiji PM wants coup leader jailed for life
August 7, 2000
Fiji calm after Speight arraignment
August 6, 2000
Fiji prosecutors prepare to arraign Speight
August 4, 2000

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Fiji coup crisis special
Fiji live coverage - Parliament Under Siege
The Official Fiji Government Site
  • Fiji Constitution
  • Office of the Prime Minister
CIA -- The World Factbook 1999 -- Fiji

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.