Fiji: Police Murder - Tarakinikini Case - Rambuka

Three items...

Savua blames stress for police murder
Tarakinikini case still open
Rabuka defends terrorist financier

http://www.pcgov.org.fj

PEOPLE'S COALITION GOVERNMENT, FIJI

Savua blames stress for police murder

Issue No: 804 29 May 2001

Disgraced Police Commissioner Isikia Savua has blamed stress and trauma which the police have suffered for a policeman murdering his wife in Ba.

Savua told a media conference that the nation's police force suffered significant stress after the terrorists' activity last year.

Savua had effectively abandoned his post, preparing his senior officers for his departure to the Prime Minister's Office, leaving the police force leaderless, when the terrorists had started their rampage. The police force was without any leader for over 2 months since the terrorists took over the Parliament Complex.

Savua's defence of the murder has shocked the nation.

The state's chief psychologist has condemned Savua for venturing in an area which he knows little about. The women's lobby has also condemned Savua for justifying the murder.

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Tarakinikini case still open

Issue No: 803 29 May 2001

The military has confirmed that the Tarakinikini file is not closed.

Lt. Col. Tarakinikini was suspected of being involved with the terrorists from the inside. He is also on the suspect list of people behind the 2 November failed mutiny and attempted coup.

The media reports that investigations on his involvement are still ongoing and that there are possibilities of him being recalled from his UN posting. The UN offered him a job despite questions being raised over his involvement with the terrorists. The military is quoted as saying: "He hasn't been cleared of the investigations altogether. He was cleared of allegations that he was a supporter when he was seen in the parliamentary complex with the rebels. The rebels also claimed he was supporting them, but that could be sabotage. If there is enough evidence against him and depending on the court martial, if it is necessary, he will be required to return to Fiji".

Tarakinikini was reportedly marked for the job of Police Commissioner in the original plan of the terrorists. The Police Commissioner was marked for the job of Prime Minister while Rabuka was to become the President. The terrorists' plans did not work when the Third Infantry Regiment of the Fiji Military forces, then commanded by Lt. Col. Viliame Seruvakula, refused to back them.

END

Rabuka defends terrorist financier

Issue No: 800 28 May 2001

Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has come to the defence of an alleged terrorist financier.

According to media reports, Rabuka has asked the Qarase regime to bail out the troubled Valebasoga TropicBoards Ltd. The company is under receivership. The owner of the company was reportedly investigated for financing the terrorists last year.

Rabuka has proposed to the Qarase regime that it should consider treating the company's debt as a grant from the government to the company, and allow the state owned Fiji Development Bank to write off the loan. Alternatively he suggested that Qarase should allow the company to reprogram its debt servicing, or to suspend the debt repayments until the political economic situations stabilises.

Rabuka cited the cases of Emperor Gold Mining and Fiji Forest Industries where his regime had intervened. He stated: "Financial assistance to Emperor Gold Mine, Mt. Kasi and Fiji Forest Industries come to mind as their problems relate to events not of their own making, like the 1987 military coups and the low gold price". Emperor Gold Mining Company had financed a large part of the destabilisation campaign in 1987. In return the Australian owned company continued to seek and receive public funds under the Rabuka regime.

Rabuka's intervention exposes the Rabuka modus operandi: seek funds and assistance for toppling elected governments from private companies whose operations are less than transparent, and fund them back through taxpayer money when in power.

Meanwhile, the Labasa bus company which had gone on strike last month citing poor road conditions, has had a bank seize numerous buses for non payment of loans. It is understood that the bus company was using the strike action in a bid to get the Qarase regime to provide it financial assistance. A prominent Labasa politician who was defeated in the last election, and who is alleged to be a financier of the terrorists, is also associated with the bus company.

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