Shut up or leave, Bainimarama warns
Thursday September 06, 2007

Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has warned he will send the man he replaced nine months ago back to his home island and keep him there for a long time if he continues to criticise the interim Government and the military.

And Commodore Bainimarama said that ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase will be accompanied by his party, Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua, spokesman Peceli Kinivuwai.

This follows allegations by Qarase and Kinivuwai that a caller from the military had tried to stop the SDL management meeting this week.

In an interview with fijilive, Commodore Bainimarama said that Qarase and Kinivuwai have been spreading lies about the regime and are not acting in the best interest of the nation.

"The Government and the military have been very lenient on Qarase," he said.

"We allowed him to return to his family and to attend his court case, but not to destablise the situation - that's what he' s been doing.

"The easy cure is for Laisenia Qarase to return to Vanuabalavu - him and his spokesman. They can talk from there.

"He is lying about someone calling from the military but there is no evidence. He is trying to blame the military. So if they continue, it is better that they go to Vanuabalavu."

Commodore Bainimarama adds that the people of Fiji are enjoying the prosperity and progress made towards returning the country to democratic rule.

He said that opposition shown by Qarase and his supporters is only undoing the work of the interim Government.

"What he is saying is not in the interest of Fiji and is not consistent with what the interim Government has planned for the good of the country," he said.