International pressure mounted on Fiji's military-led government yesterday to lift a new round of emergency rule, declared by the coup leader in response to what he called destabilization efforts by an ousted prime minister.
The EU, the Commonwealth, the US and New Zealand condemned the month-long state of emergency imposed on Thursday by the self-declared interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
"It is not apparent which threats to national security, public order and safety exist to justify such a drastic measure as bringing back the Public Emergency Regulations," the EU said.
Under the latest measures, the military regime has the right to detain Fijians without charge. Public meetings are only allowed with formal police approval and street marches are banned.
Fiji's political situation was set to be on the Council of the EU's agenda at a meeting in Brussels yesterday, it said in a statement.
Bainimarama -- who seized power in a bloodless coup last Dec. 5 -- said the latest emergency measures were needed to counter efforts by ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and others from his indigenous Fijian-dominated Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua party.
Bainimarama accused them on Thursday of "spreading lies" after Qarase returned last weekend to Suva following more than eight months in self-imposed exile on his home island, Vanuabalavu.
The military chief rejected Qarase's offer to work with Bainimarama's government. Despite the reconciliatory gesture, Qarase also initiated court action seeking to declare Bainimarama's government illegal.
Fiji military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga said Qarase had "gone beyond the limits of free speech" and was inciting instability with his claims of death threats and harassment by military forces.
The decision to impose a state of emergency had been made "to ensure public law and order is maintained," Tikoitoga told New Zealand's National Radio.
Several countries have reacted unfavorably to Bainimarama's move.
The US said his actions cast doubt on the military's commitment to restore human rights, civil liberties and democratic rule in Fiji, and on its "willingness to work with the Pacific Islands Forum and the rest of the international community in organizing new elections."
"We have consistently called on the interim government to take meaningful steps to respect human rights and civil liberties, withdraw the military completely from government and hold new elections as quickly as possible," the US Embassy in Suva said in a statement.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters' advice to Bainimarama was blunt: "Pick your soldiers up and go back to the barracks and stop embarrassing Fiji and the Pacific."
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