A report from Fiji speaks of fundamental difference between the army commander, Frank Bainimarama, and the government over the way to resolve legal and political differneces arising out of the May 2000 coup crisis.
The Fiji Sun says this is ocontained in a paper circulated in Suva at the Pacific Regional Consultation of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict.
The paper, prepared by Jone Dakuvula of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, says the army commander believes that professionalism within the ranks of the military must be restored.
To this end Commodore Bainimarama is training a corps of professional, non-political officers to take over from the current leadership on the near future.
The paper says professionalism to Commodore Bainimarama also means that all those who supported and participated in the coup and mutinies, including the political leaders who instigated them, should be taken to court and punished if convicted.
It says like many ordinary citizens the military has seen senior politicians and the vice president being charged but they have remained in office and not resigned voluntarily.
The paper says the prime minister's defence that they have not been convicted reeks of double standards because soldiers charged were held in custody until their court martial.
The paper says ordinary soldiers are languishing in jail while those who encouraged and led them are let off lightly.
