7 Dec 2006

Fiji military's PM will be happy to do jail time in good cause

5:14 pm on 7 December 2006

Fiji's military appointed caretaker prime minister says if he ends up in prison because he fought for a just cause in life, he will be happy to serve his time.

Dr Jona Senilagakali says he is not worried if he ends up in jail and will not resist.

Dr Senilagakali says this week's military takeover was not something that happened overnight and the army had given the elected prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, enough time.

He agrees that they have removed a democratically elected government.

But he adds that if they can put in an illegal government which is going to improve the life of the people, "that is a better and much higher calling than to continue the democracy which is not helping the people."

Dr Senilagakali says he had warned the military to keep an eye on Andrew Hughes when the Australian national was appointed police commissioner because he was going to promote Australia's foreign policy.

Mr Hughes left directly from New Zealand for Australia after failing to have Commodore Bainimarama arrested there.

Dr Senilagakali says now Mr Hughes is sitting pretty in Australia making a lot of noise while the people in Fiji have to solve their problems.

He says Fiji will not welcome him back.