29 Jul 2005

Fiji's military remains defiant over contentious bill

1:55 pm on 29 July 2005

Fiji's military is not backing down over the government's Reconciliation and Unity Bill, despite the country's paramount chiefs supporting the proposed legislation.

The Great Council of Chiefs endorsed the bill yesterday following strong representations against it by the military chief, Commodore Frank Bainimarama and the Coalition of Concerned Citizens Against the Bill.

A military spokesman, Captain Neumi Leweni, says that while the army feels betrayed by the GCC's decision, it will continue to fight against the bill.

"It's just the beginning of a very long process. They've only just endorsed it but it needs to go through other things before its passed in parliament. So, like the commander said, he's disappointed, but there's still a long way to go."

Captain Leweni reiterated an earlier warning by the military that it would not let the bill pass into law.

The GCC's decision came after all 14 of Fiji's indigenous provincial councils backed the bill.