2014 Letter to Mosese Tikoitoga: 13 August 2014 Mr Mosese Tikoitoga Commander RFMF Nabua Dear Mr Tikoitoga Re: Bainimarama comments and threat of instability I write on the above subject, after having given it much thought. In writing to you I am guided by the annals of our history as it relates to acts of extra constitutionality since 14 May 1987. Fiji’s first coup was undertaken by Sitiveni Rabuka on 14 May 1987. Mr Rabuka has since apologized for his extra constitutional and illegal act (of treason). He has has laid blame on politicians and certain businesses. Regardless of his attempted justification, Mr Rabuka was able to do what he did on 14 May 1987 on account of a lapse in the security of the military, whereby the current Commander in Chief and President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, who was then RFMF commander was arrested and detained by a lower ranked officer so that the 1987 coup could be carried out. It is notable to state for the record that Ratu Epeli had at that time said that the military was loyal to the newly elected Bavadra coalition government. Mr Rabuka resigned from the RFMF in 1991 and went on to become Prime Minister in 1992 under the SVT banner and held that position until he was comprehensively defeated in the 1999 polls. He resigned from Parliament and became GCC Chair after his appointment to this position by the GCC. Since 1991, the RFMF has had 2 previous commanders, Ratu Epeli Ganilau (1991 – 1999) and Frank Bainimarama (1999 – 2014). It would appear that Mr Rabuka was unable to digest defeat at the polls and sought to undermine the government of the day first by his overtly anti Peoples Coalition comments. On the day of the 2000 coup, May 19, Mr Rabuka allegedly presented himself to the then President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and said he was ready to assume the Prime Ministership. Ratu Sir Kamisese apparently got his ADC to show Mr Rabuka the door. In November 2000 Mr Rabuka was allegedly linked to the CRW instigated mutiny. In 2006 Mr Bainimarama committed treason when he overthrew the constitutionally elected government led by Mr Laisenia Qarase. I say treason on account of the Court of Appeal declaration of 9 April 2009, whereby the Court of Appeal said that Mr Bainimarama’s actions in removing the Qarase led government was unlawful. Mr Bainimarama resigned in April 2014 to contest the elections set for 17 September 2014. He has used and continues to use State resources to campaign and has said in an Auckland meeting last weekend that he could not guarantee that there would not be another coup if he lost. This latter part of the last sentence needs to be seen in context and requires the RFMF and the Police to take serious note. For there to be another coup, it would need the involvement of (parts or whole) of the military to succeed. This means that you, as Commander, have been made complicit in any future coup/s by Mr Bainimarama’s comments in Auckland. However, given your open comments of disassociating the RFMF with any political entities means that Mr Bainimarama’s designs may be more sinister and would involve your removal to effect his overthrow of a democratically elected government. I note that your tenure as Commander is still fairly young (3 months) and that many military officers around you are there on account of Mr Bainimarama putting them there. I believe that you have not yet fully stamped your authority on the RFMF and will thus be vulnerable to threats of (your) removal if Mr Bainimarama loses the elections next month. In essence, for Mr Bainimarama to execute a coup he would either need to involve you as RFMF Commander or remove/ have you removed and replaced by someone more pliant. In light of such a stated and hostile threat, of an extra constitutional act, against the State and the people of Fiji by Mr Bainimarama, should he lose the September elections, it is my suggestion that the RFMF institute its own inquires as the comments by Mr Bainimarama in Auckland would relate to the military and that such comments undermine the RFMF and your leadership. I also ask that you meet with the Police Commissioner to further discuss the comments by Mr Bainimarama of a future coup if he lost. Such comments are irresponsible and would create fear in the minds of electors. Most importantly, it would undermine the process of free and fair elections. Fiji has suffered immeasurably as a result of RFMF officers who have usurped the mandate of the people under one pretext or another. For the RFMF to cleanse its blemished image and restore the public’s confidence in it, it needs to act decisively against any threats to constitutional rule, beginning with Mr Bainimarama’s comments in Auckland on not being able to say that there would be no further coups if he did not win the September elections. Yours sincerely [SGD] Rajendra Chaudhry facebook/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutube%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D0mIdbyv4twQ%26sns%3Dem&h=EAQEZwxZK
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 23:22:24 +0000
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