Alleged plot against Ratu Iloilo, 2000
Encyclopedia
Police spokeswoman Sylvia Low announced on 25 August that they were considering opening an investigation into allegations made the previous day by the Military
Commander, Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
, that Senator
Apisai Tora
and a number of others had approached him in the Fijian Holdings boardroom during the 2000 crisis and asked him to remove from office President Ratu Josefa Iloilo
. "If he claims to be fighting for indigenous Fijian rights, then he should explain to the general public why he tried to remove the Tui Vuda
who is a chief of his province," Bainimarama said. An interview was arranged between Bainimarama and Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime ACP Kevueli Bulamainaivalu. According to Bainimarama, the 2000 was instigated by "corrupt politicians", and the way to guarantee stability in Fiji was to remove them "from the equation."
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner
Andrew Hughes
rejected calls from one newspaper to charge Commodore Bainimarama with misprision of treason
for not revealing the incriminating information earlier; Hughes said that to start charging people who wanted to come forward with facts would only create further obstacles.
It was confirmed on 27 August that the investigation would go ahead, and would be led by Bulamainaivalu. The police would tread cautiously, Bulamainaivalu said, but would look at the possibility of the investigation leading to the completion of other cases.
On 29 August, Attorney-General Bale challenged Bainimarama to come clean with everything he knew about the alleged plot to remove President Iloilo in 2001. "Like everyone else we want to know what happened and who was involved and what transpired," Bale said. "And if the Commander can answer these questions then he should do so."
On 29-30 August, the war of words between Commodore Bainimarama and Senator Tora appeared to be escalating. Referring to Bainimarama's allegations about his role in the events of 2000, Tora protested his innocence and accused the Commander of hypocrisy, saying that the Bainimarama himself had forced the resignation of the Iloilo's presidential predecessor, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
on 29 May 2000. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, he said that Bainimarama was calling the reputation of the Military into disrepute, and called on him to stand aside in favour of "a real army man" who could restore its honour.
Rejecting Tora's attack, Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel
Orisi Rabukawaqa
said that Commodore Bainimarama had the full support of his troops.
MP
Poseci Bune
. The files had no expiry date, said Bulamainaivalu; investigations would continue as new evidence came to light. His comments were echoed by police spokeswoman Sylvia Low.
Tora's denial of Bainimarama's allegations was supported by Prime Minister Qarase, who said on 31 August that he had been at the meeting referred to by Commodore Bainimarama, and that the question of deposing President Iloilo had not been discussed. Bainimarama reiterated his allegations on 1 September, however. "The meeting took place and I will not change my stand on that," Bainimarama said. "It did take place."
Bainimarama made an official statement to the police on 5 September, Police Commissioner
Andrew Hughes
and Deputy Commissioner Moses Driver
revealed. A team of Criminal Investigation Officers interviewed the Military commander at length, but both parties refused to divulge to the media the details of what was discussed. Bainimarama said after the meeting, however, that he was willing to testify in court against the people he had named.
Military of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
Commander, Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Frank Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister...
, that Senator
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
Apisai Tora
Apisai Tora
Mohammad Apisai Vuniyayawa Tora is a Fijian politician and former soldier and trade unionist. As a labour leader, he was a fighter for dock workers. As a soldier, he served in Malaya and is currently the President of the Ex-Servicemen's League....
and a number of others had approached him in the Fijian Holdings boardroom during the 2000 crisis and asked him to remove from office President Ratu Josefa Iloilo
Josefa Iloilo
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ was the President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009, excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 until 4 January 2007 . He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda, the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast...
. "If he claims to be fighting for indigenous Fijian rights, then he should explain to the general public why he tried to remove the Tui Vuda
Tui Vuda
Tui Vuda is the traditional title of the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast. Currently, the former president of Fiji, Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda holds the title.-References:*...
who is a chief of his province," Bainimarama said. An interview was arranged between Bainimarama and Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime ACP Kevueli Bulamainaivalu. According to Bainimarama, the 2000 was instigated by "corrupt politicians", and the way to guarantee stability in Fiji was to remove them "from the equation."
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner
Commissioner of Police (Fiji)
Fiji has a unified national police force, the Fiji Police, whose motto is Salus Populi.The Fijian Commissioner of Police title had been held by Australian police officer Andrew Hughes since 2003 but after the 2006 takeover of the Government the post has been reserved for a local.The Commissioner is...
Andrew Hughes
Andrew Hughes (police)
Andrew 'Andy' Hughes is a senior officer of the Australian Federal Police who, until recently, served as the Chief Police Officer for the Australian Capital Territory . The CPO position is similar to the role of Australian Commissioners of Police, that is, the chief executive of the ACT Policing...
rejected calls from one newspaper to charge Commodore Bainimarama with misprision of treason
Misprision of treason
Misprision of treason is an offence found in many common law jurisdictions around the world, having been inherited from English law. It is committed by someone who knows a treason is being or is about to be committed but does not report it to a proper authority...
for not revealing the incriminating information earlier; Hughes said that to start charging people who wanted to come forward with facts would only create further obstacles.
It was confirmed on 27 August that the investigation would go ahead, and would be led by Bulamainaivalu. The police would tread cautiously, Bulamainaivalu said, but would look at the possibility of the investigation leading to the completion of other cases.
Tora denies allegations
Tora, meanwhile, denied the allegations. He said that the meeting to which the Commander referred took place before Iloilo's inauguration as President, not after. Commodore Bainimarama must be confused, he considered, and said he was preparing a written document to defend himself.On 29 August, Attorney-General Bale challenged Bainimarama to come clean with everything he knew about the alleged plot to remove President Iloilo in 2001. "Like everyone else we want to know what happened and who was involved and what transpired," Bale said. "And if the Commander can answer these questions then he should do so."
On 29-30 August, the war of words between Commodore Bainimarama and Senator Tora appeared to be escalating. Referring to Bainimarama's allegations about his role in the events of 2000, Tora protested his innocence and accused the Commander of hypocrisy, saying that the Bainimarama himself had forced the resignation of the Iloilo's presidential predecessor, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
Kamisese Mara
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992...
on 29 May 2000. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, he said that Bainimarama was calling the reputation of the Military into disrepute, and called on him to stand aside in favour of "a real army man" who could restore its honour.
Rejecting Tora's attack, Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Orisi Rabukawaqa
Orisi Rabukawaqa
Orisi Rabukawaqa is a Fijian career soldier. As of early 2006, he holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and is one of two official spokesmen for the Military, the other being Major Neumi Leweni....
said that Commodore Bainimarama had the full support of his troops.
Police investigation
Bulamainaivalu said on 29 August that it was up to Commodore Bainimarama to file an official report and sign it. Until then, the police could do nothing, he said. He added on 31 August that the allegations against Tora and five other Fijian Holdings board members were not new. Investigations into an alleged plot involving them had been opened in 2003, he said, following allegations from LabourFiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
MP
House of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
Poseci Bune
Poseci Bune
Poseci Waqalevu Bune is a Fijian politician, who has served as Deputy Leader of the Fiji Labour Party . From June to December 2006, he served as Minister for the Environment, one of nine FLP ministers, in the multiparty Cabinet of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase...
. The files had no expiry date, said Bulamainaivalu; investigations would continue as new evidence came to light. His comments were echoed by police spokeswoman Sylvia Low.
Tora's denial of Bainimarama's allegations was supported by Prime Minister Qarase, who said on 31 August that he had been at the meeting referred to by Commodore Bainimarama, and that the question of deposing President Iloilo had not been discussed. Bainimarama reiterated his allegations on 1 September, however. "The meeting took place and I will not change my stand on that," Bainimarama said. "It did take place."
Bainimarama made an official statement to the police on 5 September, Police Commissioner
Commissioner of Police (Fiji)
Fiji has a unified national police force, the Fiji Police, whose motto is Salus Populi.The Fijian Commissioner of Police title had been held by Australian police officer Andrew Hughes since 2003 but after the 2006 takeover of the Government the post has been reserved for a local.The Commissioner is...
Andrew Hughes
Andrew Hughes (police)
Andrew 'Andy' Hughes is a senior officer of the Australian Federal Police who, until recently, served as the Chief Police Officer for the Australian Capital Territory . The CPO position is similar to the role of Australian Commissioners of Police, that is, the chief executive of the ACT Policing...
and Deputy Commissioner Moses Driver
Moses Driver
Moses Driver is a Fijian police officer, who is the immediate past Deputy Commissioner of Police. In this capacity, he assisted Commissioner of Police Andrew Hughes.A major part of Driver's work was pursuing investigations into the Fiji coup of 2000....
revealed. A team of Criminal Investigation Officers interviewed the Military commander at length, but both parties refused to divulge to the media the details of what was discussed. Bainimarama said after the meeting, however, that he was willing to testify in court against the people he had named.