Media Statement No. 4 : Bainimarama The Beast

Media Statement No. 4 : Bainimarama The Beast

Lt. Col. Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, Commander of the 3FIR
27 May 2011

Firstly I want to comment on the allegations made by Bainimarama that my statements are racist.

I am not a racist and I have not made any racist comments. I have told Fiji that Bainimarama is in thrall to Khaiyum the Attorney General. Those remarks are about two individuals and race does not come into it. It is in the national interests of all in Fiji to understand that Bainimarama is the puppet of Khaiyum and we are following Khaiyum’s vision for Fiji and not Bainimarama’s.

I am the son of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. He was the founder of multiracial Fiji. His vision for Fiji included Fijians, Indians and all the races that make up our vibrant multicultural heritage. As his son I share those same values. Bainimarama playing the race card shows a shallow naval officer clearly out of his depth.

I will now go into my personal recollection of the events that took place:
In December 2006 Bainimarama needed to clamp down on all protests to his illegal takeover of Fiji. Anybody, too vocal, was taken up to QEB barracks where they were assaulted and humiliated. If he was not attacking their bodies he was attacking their property and organized a number of arson attacks against the people of Fiji.

One night 3 ladies Laisa Digitaki, Virisila Buadromo & Jacquline Koroi were brought up to the camp along with Pita Waqavonovono. They were part of the Pro Democracy movement and had been very vocal in their protests. They had constructed a Pro Democracy shrine in Lami. Bainimarama decided that they were creating problems for his military junta and made the decision to silence them.

It was a pitch black night when the girls were brought to the barracks. There were a number of soldiers present including the Commander of the RFMF, Bainimarama. He was wearing a bush hat, brown overalls and no obvious signs of his rank. The men were hanging back unsure what to do. This was the first time there were women in the camp needing to be silenced. Bainimarama landed the first blow. He then continued to punch and kick them. When they had fallen to the ground he jumped on their backs and continued with the beating. The girls could not see who was attacking them and for a long time it has been blamed on Pita Driti. It was not Driti but Bainimarama, the man who calls himself the Prime Minister of Fiji.

I was there but I did not take part in any of the beatings. To answer the question why didn’t I stop it? The answer is you can’t tell your commanding officer to stop anything at that time. But that, is not really a good reason and I regret I did not do more. I apologize to you, Laisa, Virisila, Jacqueline and Pita and when I am back in Suva I will answer to you all.

It is very odd and probably says much about the fragile mental state of the man, that in all time Bainimarama was around for the beatings I have only ever seen him hit women, never men.
As I have said before I am happy to face the people of Fiji and account for my actions in 2006. I want to make sure, that Bainimarama, the man behind all the beatings should also stand trial in Fiji. I call upon Brigadier General Iowane Naivalarua , the Commissioner of Police, to follow up my allegations and to start an investigation into the beatings at QEB.

To see the video of this statement please click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFf7P7-SmWg

Bio-data of Ratu Tevita Kapaiwai Lutunauga Uluilakeba Mara

Ratu Tevita Kapaiwai Lutunauga Uluilakeba Mara is a Fijian career soldier, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as of early 2006. On 3rd Feb, 2001 he was named Army Chief of Staff succeeding Colonel Meli Saubulinayau, a close relative of his. This position is the fourth highest in the Fijian Military, behind that of the Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff RFMF Brigadier General Mohamed Aziz and the Land Force Commander Brigadier General Pita Driti. Mara held the position for several months, before he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Third Infantry Regiment, a key position in the Fiji Army as he controls the infantry division.

Background

In December 2006 The Republic of Fiji Military Forces took control of Fiji in bloodless coup. The army had a strict plan which was te remove corruption and corrupt politicians and to return to barracks within a year. Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Uluilakeba Mara was in charge of the 3 FIR on that day and for the next 4 years.

He witnessed from the inside how power has corrupted the key players in the regime and how now they have forgotten their original objectives as they desperately cling to power. Colonel Mara has left Fiji so that he can speak freely about the need to for regime change in his beloved Fiji.

ENDS

© Scoop Media