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Traditional chiefs refuse to back Fiji coup

Divisions over Fiji's military take-over widened yesterday as powerful traditional chiefs and politicians split on whether to support the bloodless overthrow of the South Pacific island nation's government.

The military received a further blow late yesterday when the Commonwealth, an association of mostly British former colonies, suspended Fiji's membership.

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase remained defiant, calling on bureaucrats not to cooperate with the military. He appeared to concede his government was finished but, said he would return to the capital Suva next week.

"To be realistic, all the privileges of the prime minister have been taken away from me so ... I'll be moving around as an ordinary person," Qarase told local TV from his village on Vanuabalavu island in Fiji's remote east.

Qarase predicts there will be demonstrations against the takeover, but military commander Frank Bainimarama says his troops will quickly put down any opposition.

Qarase was ousted on Tuesday after a year-long power struggle with Bainimarama.

Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), the traditional authority which represents 14 chiefly provinces and appoints the president, opposes the takeover as undemocratic and illegal.

Bainimarama has been trying to get the council to meet to endorse the reinstatement of President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, the first step toward naming an interim government. But chiefs have resisted and hundreds of villagers have blocked the entrance to Tavualevu village, home of GCC Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini, vowing to stop soldiers entering.

In London, the 53-nation Commonwealth suspended Fiji's membership, barring it from all inter-governmental activities.
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