July 1, 2001

By Michael Field
   Former Fiji coup leader and prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka is willing to be prime minister again if it is offered to him, the Fiji Times reported Saturday.
   It is a reverse in what he was saying two months ago when he said he would not compete in elections due in August.
   Fiji lost its democracy in a coup last year which saw the overthrow of the government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
   The then President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, accused Rabuka of having a role in that coup along with failed businessman George Speight and a band of special forces soldiers.
   Rabuka said he was willing to work with Chaudhry and any other leader if the need arises.
   He said he changed position was due to the support of his constituency of Cakaudrove.
   While he is prepared to contest, allegations about his involvement in the May 19 upheaval last year plus the attempted mutiny at Fiji's military barracks later in the year are still rife.

Asked about the Mara claims of involvement in the coup Rabuka replied: "Whatever Ratu Mara says doesn't have to gospel. He is a very jealous leader.''
   Rabuka said this was because Mara realised that all the benefits he enjoyed as a leader could also be enjoyed the by Rabukas and the Chaudhrys and he was not happy about this.
   "He is just getting back at me.''
   In 1987 Rabuka, then number three in the Fiji military, staged a coup followed by a second one several months later. He was prime minister up until 1999 when he lost elections, under a new multi-racial constitution, to Chaudhry.
   Early last year, Rabuka in an autobiography said the Mara had knowledge of the 1987 coup, which saw the overthrow of the then Bavadra government. Since then no blood has been lost between the two leaders.

Copyright: Michael Field