Exiled PM vows to return to Suva

The Fijian prime minister ousted by a coup will return to Suva early next week despite the risk of arrest, his spokesman said today.

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase’s personal secretary Sakeasi Ditoka said Qarase will return to be among his people from his home island in the northern Lau group where he fled after the coup on Tuesday.

Qarase is taking seriously a threat by coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama to imprison the prime minister on Nukulau Island off the coast of Suva, Ditoka said.

“We’re expecting that too. We know what’s going to happen. But we need to come back for everybody’s sake,” Ditoka said. “The people want their leader among them.”