Fijian troops hunt for funding

THE head of Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Ovini Bokini, yesterday barricaded himself in his village in the west of the country's main island, Viti Levu, after troops tried to visit him following his steadfast refusal to recognise the legitimacy of coup leader Frank Bainimarama.

THE head of Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Ovini Bokini, yesterday barricaded himself in his village in the west of the country's main island, Viti Levu, after troops tried to visit him following his steadfast refusal to recognise the legitimacy of coup leader Frank Bainimarama.

Soldiers scoured Suva to find senior public servants, such as the Finance Department chief executive Paula Uluinaceva and Land Transport Authority head Abraham Simpson, who control significant public funds the military needs to keep the country - and their troops - operating.

The refusal of the chiefs to back Commodore Bainimarama, and the cash crisis facing the army, led the military to concede their so-called "clean-up" campaign - their euphemism for the coup plans - would take longer than expected to execute.

The chiefs, who have backed three previous Fijian coups, were angered by Commodore Bainimarama's summary sacking of Vice-President Joni Madraiwiwi on Wednesday, and condemned Commodore Bainimarama's "illegal, unconstitutional" actions.

Soldiers were busy carrying out raids on offices, seizing paperwork they hope will show allegations of corruption in the ousted government of prime minister Laisenia Qarase can be proved.

Mr Qarase said there was growing popular opposition to the coup. "I think there will be peaceful demonstrations, the momentum is gathering," he said from his home on Mavana Island, in the remote Lau islands group.

Commodore Bainimarama has advertised for people to apply for jobs as ministers in the new interim government.

Commonwealth foreign ministers were meeting in London last night to discuss whether to suspend Fiji from the organisation.

The upheaval in Fiji has come at an unfortunate time for the island nation's tourism industry, which was in the middle of a five-star boom, with two international chains, Sofitel and Hilton, opening at Denarau Island, near Nadi, in the past year.

Likuliku Lagoon Resort, Fiji's first with overwater bungalows - the style of tropical accommodation that is the prime drawcard for resorts in Tahiti and the Maldives - is due to open on March 15.

A new Tourism Action Group met in Nadi yesterday to plan their resistance to the coup.

Chairman Damend Gounder of inbound operator Tour Managers told The Weekend Australian: "We need to get the message across that this is a non-violent situation. No tourists have ever been harmed in previous coups."