Issue No: 183; 7 November 2000
The military has ordered the restriction of movement for Lt. Col Filipo Tarakinikini and Ulaiasi Vatu effective today.
Military's spokesman, Major Howard Politini told the media today that order was made pursuant to s5 of the Emergency
Decree 2000. S5 empowers the Police Commissioner or the Commanding Officer to impose conditions on the movement of a
person who "has been recently concerned in acts involving or likely to cause or provoke a breach of the peace, or likely
to be prejudicial to the success of measures taken to maintain or restore public order, or in the preparation or
institution of such acts, or that by reason of his words or conduct he is likely to be concerned in such acts". The
restrictions include house arrest. [See Documents - Others for the Emergency Decree].
Tarakinikini told tonight's Fiji TV news that he was very concerned that he was placed under house arrest because there
was no evidence to link him to the 2 Nov. attempted coup.
Tarakinikini and Vatu were implicated by the head of the CRW, Captain Shane Stevens who is now recovering from gun shot
wounds after his failed attempt to capture the military barracks.
Earlier, Tarakinikini had threatened to sue the New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister, Phil Goff for saying: "There is
some suspicion that the person that rebel forces have been trying to replace Commodore Bainimarama with is
Lieutenant-Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini". Goff stood his ground and said that Tarakinikini was free to take whatever
action he wanted to. Lieutenant-Colonel Tarakinikini also said that he is now reconsidering his career in the military.
There are rumours that Tarakinikini was reconsidering his career in the military for some time now. In April, Police
Commissioner Isikia Savua tried unsuccessfully to get Tarakinikini into the Police Force to replace ASP Jahir Khan. This
move, it is rumoured now, was to prepare Tarakinikini for the Police Commissioners job if the 19 May attempt would have
succeeded which would have seen Savua usurp the Prime Minister's post. It is now speculated that Tarakinikini was in
line for either the Military Commander's post or the Commissioner of Police's post if the 2 November attempted coup
would have succeeded. There are strong rumours that the suspended Police Commissioner, Isikia Savua would have taken
over the Prime Ministership and Rabuka the Presidentship after the 2 November attempt. No evidence has been provided to
support these allegations.
The military and the police are now investigating Tarakinikini and some senior military officers for their role in the 2
November attempted coup.
END
UK Wants Fiji To Retain 1997 Constitution
Issue No: 183; 7 November 2000
The Government of United Kingdom wants the 1997 Constitution to be retained by Fiji.
In a media conference today, UK's new High Commissioner to Fiji said that the UK wants the restoration of constitutional
democracy in Fiji as soon as possible. Referring to the shootout at the military barracks, he said that the incident
indicated that the sooner constitutional democracy is returned the better for Fiji. He stressed that the UK wants a
constitution that protects all citizens equally, and in the UK's view the 1997 Constitution did this well. He said the
UK wanted minimal changes to be made to the 1997 Constitution.
END 7 November 2000