The US government may not accept the nomination of Sitiveni Rabuka as Fiji's ambassador to the US.
A TV One report this evening stated that the nomination was made by the Interim President Ratu Josefa Iloilo. The US
Embassy stated that it has still not received any formal notification of the nomination. The news report also stated
that interim regime Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is aware of the US government position.
Fiji's ambassadors are appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Prime Minister. That Qarase recommended
Rabuka for the post knowing fully the position of the US government indicates the extent to which the Qarase regime will
go to embarrass both the President as well as the nation.
Rabuka's name has often arisen as the face behind Speight. Speight's terrorists trained on Rabuka's farm in Vanua Levu.
Rabuka denied knowledge of the training.
During captivity in the Parliament Complex as hostages, some terrorists informed a few hostages that Speight and the
terrorists action was endorsed by Rabuka and Police Commissioner Isikia Savua, but their failure to come to the
Parliament after Speight and the terrorists entered the Parliament and secured it angered Speight who felt let down by
these two. Speight later threatened to shoot Rabuka when Speight refused to demand the resignation of the President. It
is believed that Rabuka backed down when the military refused to rally behind Speight. According to information provided
by the terrorists, Rabuka was to become the President and Savua the Prime Minister if the military had fallen behind the
terrorists.
END
28 September.