FIJI: COUP LEADERS RELEASE LAST OF HOSTAGES UPDATE

(13 Jul 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Fiji's deposed prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry said he had "no animosity " towards coup leader George Speight, following his release on Thursday.
Chaudhry and the remaining 18 captives were set free ending a two month old parliamentary hostage crisis that has led to increasing unrest.
Speight shook hands and hugged Chaudhry before allowing him, former Cabinet members and other hostages to leave.
Hours later, Fiji's traditional power, the 50-member Great Council of Chiefs, elected Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president.
After a two month standoff the final 18 hostages were loaded onto the back of Red Cross trucks watched by curious onlookers in the grounds of Fiji's parliament house.
There were congratulations all round following the successful release of the final 18 which included Fiji's deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
About 150 Speight supporters cheered as the hostages left.
The hostages were taken to the Fiji Red Cross Society building, where they were to undergo quick medical checks.
The release followed a deal Sunday, when the military agreed to scrap the country's multiracial constitution, depose Chaudhry, Fiji's first prime minister of ethnic Indian descent, and grant Speight and his henchmen amnesty.
The hostage-takers held a traditional ceremony seeking forgiveness by offering a bowl of kava, a mildly narcotic drink, to the 18 legislators who were the last captives to be freed after the rebels stormed parliament on May 19.
Nine hostages were released on Wednesday.
The military seized control on May 29 following violence and looting in the wake of the raid by Speight's gang 10 days earlier on Parliament.
Speight's rebels are ethnic Fijians who say the Indian minority has too much power.
Indo-Fijians, whose ancestors were brought to the islands by British colonialists over a century ago to work in the rich sugar cane fields, make up 44 percent of Fiji's 812-thousand people.
Many indigenous Fijians, who make up 51 percent of the population, resent the Indo-Fijians' economic and political clout.
The has been increasing unrest involving indigenous Fijians in recent days, possibly to take advantage of the amnesty offer.
Protesters seized two more tourists resorts in Fiji on Thursday, bringing the number held to four.
But there were growing concerns that the unrest could spread, possibly to Fiji's international airport near Nadi.
The road from Nadi to Suva has been blockaded, so disruption of the Nadi airport also would essentially isolate the capital.
It was unclear if the takeovers were part of Speight's efforts to pressure the Great Council of Chiefs to endorse his proposed Cabinet for an interim government or whether his campaign was spiralling out of control.
Following his release Chaudhry said there was no animosity from him towards Speight.
SOUNDBITE:(English)
"I've been fasting for the last six weeks so I've lost some weight.
Q: How does it feel not to be prime minister?
A: (people shouting) He is the prime minister - who are you to tell him that he isn't...It is a time for deep reflection and reconciliation and reconstruction of the country and thats what we need to do work together and put the country back on track.
Q: Will you continue to have a leadership role in the new government?
A: I think so, I think I have a vision for Fiji, unfortunately we were not allowed to fulfill that, we were deposed after 12 months but I'll continue to work with people.
Q: How do you fell towards George Speight?
A: I have no animosity towards him
SOUNDBITE:(English)
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[@laisayanesusu7287]

What would have happen if Mr. Mahendra Chaudry remained PM for long?

[@vishantram2814]

Fiji would had been like mauritus or just like newzealand

[@eddietomasi6164]

It just the jealousy of human beings. They should let him keep going but they cut him short. I believe he can do better for our people. They do bad things to him I reckon! God will punished them.

[@leevailawrence2437]

Mr Chaundry Ignored those words of wisdom spoken to him by his Elders!.. he listened, and influenced by the white bad apple's culprits. Therefore he was terminated!!!...