Fiji's deposed prime minister claims he has people's support

November 16, 2000
Web posted at: 10:26 AM HKT (0226 GMT)

SUVA, Fiji (Reuters) -- Fiji's deposed prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry said on Thursday he was confident of the people's support following a high court ruling that the South Pacific nation's post-coup government is illegal.

"Those who participated in the coup are a minority. I have no doubt that if there was an election tomorrow we'd still win and win handsomely," ethnic Indian Chaudhry told New Zealand radio.

The high court on Wednesday ordered deposed President Sir Ratu Kamisese Mara to recall parliament as soon as practicable but the military-backed interim administration says it remains the legitimate government.

The court ruled the interim government illegal and that those in parliament prior to the May 19 coup by nationalist gunmen still held office. "The status quo is restored," Judge Anthony Gates said.

But a full transcript of the 20-page judgment, made available on Thursday, showed that Gates suggested a government of "national unity" might be an option.

Gates also said that "owing to uncertainty over the status of the government," Mara should appoint a prime minister with the "confidence" of parliament.

"So the ball is really in the president's court," Chaudhry said, adding he believed he still commanded majority support of the deposed parliament.

Failed businessman George Speight and gunmen stormed Fiji's parliament in May and toppled the Chaudhry government in the name of indigenous rights, taking Chaudhry hostage. The unpopular Chaudhry was Fiji's first ethnic Indian leader.

Ethnic Indians make up about 44 percent of the 800,000 population and dominate the economy.

Chaudhry was released after 56 days and the military appointed an interim indigenous Fijian government. Speight is in jail awaiting trial on treason charges.

A failed military mutiny on November 2 by the special forces unit which backed Speight's coup left eight soldiers dead and 22 civilians wounded, further rocking Fiji.

Fiji's interim government has said it will appeal the high court ruling. "What the nation needs is a judgment based on true wisdom and maturity," Minister for Justice Alipate Qetaki told Fiji's Daily Post newspaper on Thursday.

But Fiji's unions have welcomed the high court ruling and called for a return to a democratically elected government and an end to Fiji's political crisis.

The Indian-dominated Fiji Trades Union Congress called for a government of national unity. "The congress hopes that we have had enough of political wrangling and it is time for the country to move ahead," said acting national secretary Diwan Shankar.

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