Fiji Troops May Grow U.N. Presence in Iraq

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

UNITED NATIONS - The deployment of about 130 Fijian troops to Iraq next month to protect U.N. staff and facilities could lead to an expanded U.N. operation ahead of elections in January, if security conditions permit, the United Nations said Wednesday.

The United Nations also is holding discussions with the U.S.-led coalition force to provide a unit to protect the perimeter of U.N. facilities and U.N. staff traveling outside the heavily guarded Green Zone in Baghdad, U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.

Iraq has been pressing for more U.N. experts to help prepare for elections, but the United Nations has been stymied because its request for countries to provide troops for a separate U.N. protection force and for specially trained guard units received no offers - except recently from Fiji.

The United Nations had sought to distance itself from relying on American and coalition troops. But after four months of discussions resulted in not a single country offering troops for the U.N. protection force, Annan now has no choice but to rely on the coalition to help provide security for U.N. staff.

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http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/breaking_news/9970978.htm

[Bluzmann57]

1. Who knew that Fiji even had an army?

I didn't.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. Googled them.... Interesting recent history fm 2001

Fiji army to seal off Parliament

SUVA, July 2 (AFP, Reuters) — Fiji’s Army will within 24 hours declare an “exclusive military zone” sealing off the country’s Parliament where the coup leaders are holding 27 hostages, including the elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, military sources said today.

A decree was being readied giving the Army the right to temporarily acquire any land or building, restrict essential services such as supplies of food, electricity and water, and control entry and exit to the area.

The zone, designed to “force them to come to their senses,” will be under the command of Col Viliame Seruvakula.

People will be given 48 hours to move out and the military said the safety of anyone remaining in the exclusion area cannot be guaranteed. The official residencies of the French and American Ambassadors are within the zone.

However, the military says that the “necessities of life” will be made available to those inside Parliament.

Meanwhile, Fiji’s military said today it was on track to recruit a multi-racial interim Civilian Government by July 5. Denying a media report that the nation’s hostage crisis had made some candidates too frightened to serve as ministers.

“I wouldn’t term it too frightened... there are some people who naturally would not want to serve in an administration in a time of crisis like this,” military spokesman Lt-Col Filipo Tarakinikini told reporters.

The rebels have refused to release the hostages until a civilian government comprised with a majority of indigenous Fijians is established.

Lt-Col Tarakinikini said the new civilian administration would contain some ethnic Indian Fijians, who will be given protection by the military “to ensure nothing happens to them.”

The Army’s main focus now is establishing the civilian administration, which is expected to serve for up to two years under the executive authority of the military to prepare for a general election, Lt-Col Tarakinikini said.

“Once that is in hand, we will free up all the resources at our disposal to focus on trying to resolve the (hostage) situation in Parliament,” he said.

The Fiji’s Sun newspaper today, citing military sources, said two Indian-Fijians approached for ministerial posts had declined.

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http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000703/world.htm#1

[Cocoa]

3. We forgot Fiji!

:-)