High Chief And Top Soldier Ordered Mutiny - Says Lawyer
Issue No: 574 12 March 2001
The lawyer defending the soldiers charged with mutiny claims that his clients were commanded by a high chief and a top
ranking soldier to carry out the mutiny.
A report in yesterday's Fiji Sun states that the lawyer has written to the Director of Public Prosecution's Office
stating: "In the course of our interviews of all these soldiers, a number of them have referred to the names of a
certain high ranking chief and a top ranking army personnel whom they alleged to be the persons behind the mutiny".
The lawyer also wrote: "Everyone appears to know of these two persons' involvement but their names have so far not
featured in any criminal investigation or criminal prosecution as in the cases our clients". He also claims that his
clients were told not to disclose the involvement of the chief as it "could bring about further political unrest to the
nation". The chief's role, it is claimed, was to get the civilians into the military camp to help the mutineers. The
modus operandi was to be the repeat of the parliament Complex takeover where civilians were used as a human shield.
Meanwhile, former military commander and prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, whose contract as the Secretary of the Great
Council of Chiefs was not renewed, was blamed by some chiefs in the Great Council of Chiefs as being behind the mutiny.
The media reported that one chief, Ratu Jo Damudamu, the Tui Noco, praised Rabuka in the Council of Chiefs for his
contribution to the economy but accused him of instigating the mutiny. Rabuka has not responded to the accusations.
END 12 March 2001