Fiji’s ousted government and a deposed political leader have filed treason charges against members of Fiji’s ruling military-backed government. Ousted prime minister Laisenia Qarase confirmed on Fiji television that he filed the charges.
Qarase wants Fiji police to investigate military commander and interim prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama for treason for leading the coup against his government in December, 2006.
Qarase also wants all those who took up cabinet Ousted Fiji prime minister Laisenia Qarase
positions in Bainimarama’s government to be investigated as well.
Interim attorney general Aihaz Sayed-Khaiyum labelled the charges a “gimmick” of the ousted government.
Former opposition leader Mick Beddoes also filed the charges against 14 members of the Fiji military, including Bainimarama, and civilians who have either served in the government or who are working with government initiatives, including the controversial People’s Charter.
“Having successfully convicted George Speight, Timoci Silatolu and others for a similar act in 2001, and Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure and others for taking an unlawful oath, it should be relatively easy to establish the facts of the act of treason in 2006,” Beddoes said.
Among those included in the charges is Roman Catholic Archbishop Petero Mataca, who has consulted with Bainimarama and his officials.
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