Savua Deliberately Misinformed Government

Issue No: 283 13 December 2000

Police Commissioner Isikia Savua misinformed the government on the plans to destabilise the government.

The People's Coalition Government Assistant Minister for Information, Lekh ram Vayeshnoi states that Savua deliberately misinformed the government of the moves of the terrorists. Vayeshnoi says:

"At no point did Police Commissioner Isikia Savua officially warn the People's Coalition that plans were afoot to overthrow the elected government".

Vayeshnoi states that the "Government was holding regular security briefings with the Police Commissioner and his deputies on the matter. The last such meeting was a Cabinet briefing on 11 April, 2000 attended by Mr Savua, his deputy Moses Driver, ASP Jahir Khan and Director Special Branch Berenado Daveta." He says:

"These men assured Cabinet there was no need to worry, everything was under control. When we referred them to reports we were getting of plots being hatched at dissident meetings to undermine the government, they told us these were alarmist reports with no basis. They kept saying they did not wish to alarm the Prime Minister and the Cabinet with such baseless reports.

"Similar assurances were being given to the Home Affairs Minister and assistant minister Ahmed Gaffar at their weekly meetings with Police and Home Affairs officials."

Vayeshnoi syas that the Police Commissioner Savua deliberately misled the government. "The point is that the Police Commissioner and his deputies deliberately misled the Cabinet on what was happening. This is not surprising considering that elements in the Police Force were colluding and conniving with dissident groups to overthrow the Government."

Read the full statement: http://www.pcgov.org.fj/docs_c/savua_lrv_13dec.htm

End 13 December 2000

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