11 Jan 2006

Former Fiji coup convicts support military's efforts to bring coup plotters to court

10:49 am on 11 January 2006

Two former Fiji coup convicts have backed the military commander's insistence on bringing the main perpetrators of the Speight coup to justice, saying only this will prevent the disintegration of the indigenous Fijian race.

The Fiji Sun quotes Josaia Waqabaca, who was jailed for plotting the abduction of Commodore Bainimarama in 2001, as saying the leadership style of the Qarase government could mean the demise of the Fijian people.

Mr Waqabaca says "Commodore Bainimarama is clean and fighting for the truth" and "the stand he is taking is going to save the Fijian race."

Mr Waqabaca says this is because for all these years "ordinary Fijians have been used by elite Fijians and foreigners who provide money to carry out their illegal activities."

Mr Waqabaca says "the brains behind the 2000 political crisis should be brought to justice but they are protected by networks existing within the government."

Another former coup convict, Maciu Navakasuasua, has backed Mr Waqabaca's statements, saying "Commodore Bainimarama holds the key to putting the country on the rightful path."

Mr Navakasuasua says "with the main perpetrators of the 2000 coup (still) around anything disastrous can happen."

He says the government's Reconciliation and Unity Bill is a political tool that will take the Fijian race to doom.