28 Dec 2005

Fiji military move to evict home affairs chief executive from his office

7:49 am on 28 December 2005

Fiji's military commander says the home affairs minister, Josefa Vosanibola, should be removed from office if he fails to heed his advice on security matters.

The Fiji Sun quotes Commodore Bainimarama as saying this would be his next step if the minister does not listen to the military's advice on issues affecting national security.

The statement comes as army engineers were ordered to move into the office of the home affairs chief executive, Lesi Korovavala, and clear it so Commodore Bainimarama could move there.

Commodore Bainimarama says he should be the minister's adviser, not Mr Korovavala, whom he has accused of delaying the retrial of 20 soldiers by holding up the commissioning of the judge advocate, Graham Leung, for months.

The commander says he wants Mr Korovavala to vacate his office this week because, as he put it, "I am coming in."

Commodore Bainimarama says he would seek minister Vosanibola's removal if he refuses the military's advice.