Bainimarama and Smith Johns used old security alert to justify cancelling marches

The anti-Bainimarama march at Sukuna Park at midday wasn't the only thing that didn't happen. 

So, too, didn't the US Embassy 'release' the illegal regime has been using to justify its decision to cancel the human rights and anti-violence marches that were supposed to take place today.

Frank Bainimarama yesterday cited a 'release' from the Suva based US Embassy warning its people not to take part in any marches today because there was likely to be confrontational behaviour. Quote: "The US embassy has warned all its citizens in Fiji to refrain from taking part in public marches around the country tomorrow."

Sharon Smith Johns later used the same 'release', dressing it up even more, attacking the US government for 'sowing confusion' among the people of Fiji by listening to an annonymous blog claiming that several groups may become unruly at the Sukuna Park march.

In her release, she said the US Embassy sent out an alert on Wednesday warning American citizens that "these marches may have an anti-government tone and it is possible that assembled groups may become unruly".

Smith-Johns chirped: "Government had given the permit for the march in October, this was a planned peaceful march of women, children and families to show their support for human rights .... it is most unfortunate Government has had to cancel the planned march."

Coupfourpointfive has been looking for the US Embassy release since the first Baini mention, without luck. The closest we've come is the existing security alert on the Fiji US Embassy site, which basically cautions US citizens about the P.E.R and public demonstrations. 

This information has been on the site for several months and we believe it's what the regime trotted out to stop so many people rallying in one place and the unidentified Save Fiji Movement from piggybacking on the other two marches. 

Let it be noted, too, the Police had told the NGO Coalition on Human Rights they were cancelling their permit to march before there was even any talk of American citizens being put at risk. 


We urge the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement and the NGO Coalition to ask the regime for evidence their marches were dangerous. They should also ask Baini and Smith Johns how can an alert intended for the safety of foreign citizens create confusion?

We note the pro-military organ the Fiji Sun has today repeated the story without question or investigation. It is the shabby work of the likes of the very average Peter Lomas led team at the Sun, that has helped revolutionise the delivery of information in Fiji today.

So while the regime likes to think it can dismiss freedom blogs (and the world of media is yet to give us our due), we are doing the hard graft the Fiji news industry is choosing not to do or can't do.

Regime's explanations about cancelled marches ring hollow

It seems the protocols of New Zealand, Australia and the United States have their uses when it suits the illegal regime.

After telling tourists to ignore travel advisories posted by the three countries for the past four years, the regime is now urging people to heed a warning by the US Embassy about its people getting involved in any marches in the country today.

In a statement released yesterday evening, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information, Sharon Smith Johns, backed Frank Bainimarama's earlier claim the permits for two major marches had been cancelled because of the US travel advisory.

In her release she says the Embassy sent out a alert on Wednesday warning American citizens that "these marches may have an anti government tone and it is possible that assembled groups may become unruly".

Smith Johns said the cancellation of the annual Coalition of Human Rights march and the Fiji one planned for in Suva today is unfortunate. 

"Government had given the permit for the march in October, this was a planned peaceful march of women, children and families to show their support for human rights."

She says "given these circumstances it is most unfortunate that Government has had to cancel the planned march."

"It's understood the US Embassy was reacting to an anonymous blog suggesting the march was not going to be a peaceful one."

She  said it was unbecoming for one of the most powerful countries in the world to be reacting to statements which originated from a blog-site.

"As you know we do not react to this type of information because it has proven time and again to be inaccurate and detrimental to the country. However, on this occasion for some reason the American Embassy has chosen to take heed of gossip and rumor rather than confirm the facts with the Fiji Government."

She stressed the reason for the cancellation was because basically the American Embassy was causing confusion among the people of Fiji.

"What was supposed to be a peaceful march in support of Human Rights Coalition, is now not happening", and why, " all because the American Embassy decides to advice US citizens of the possibility of violence and riots based on a blog site.

But Smith Johns failed to say the regime has for years been telling tourists to ignore the travel advisory of the three countries. Its explanation for the cancellation is ridiculous and is already being torn to shreds by people who say the regime is running scared from an anti-Baini march. Picture: Baini and Smith Johns.

Reserve Bank announces Reddy's resignation

Fiji's Reserve Bank has confirmed  what Coupfourpointfive revealed on November 12th, that the Reserve Bank Governor Sada Reddy, is no longer at his post.

In a press release issued today, the chairman of the Reserve Bank Board Governance Sub Committee, Mr. Deo Saran, said he had received Reddy's notice of resignation with immediate effect.
 

The Deputy Governor, Mr. Barry Whiteside, will act as Governor until further notice.
 

According to highly reliable sources inside the Reserve Bank, Reddy had allegedly transferred thousands of dollars to his private bank account in New Zealand last year, shortly before he devalued the valueless Fijian dollar.

On 9 April 2009, the Fiji dollar lost its value by 20 per cent. So while the poor feared more hunger and loss of employment, the man who devalued the Fiji dollar had the previous day allegedly secretly funnelled his own money, to the tune of $850,000 into his New Zealand private bank account, where his family reside, and he holds permanent residency.

The RBF’s Financial Intelligence Unit, tasked with the job of  monitor money-laundering, according to the reliable bank sources, turned a blind eye to the alleged money transfer.

Bainimarama shuts down all marches as talk of a protest rally to remove him persists

Fiji's illegal leader has acknowledged for the first time talk of a march against him that is believed to be happening at Sukuna Park tomorrow and being organised by a group calling itself Save Fiji Movement.

Voreqe Bainimarama has told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation that all public marches around the country have been cancelled and that it is 'just a precautionary measure.'

Bainimarama, who has been keeping a low profile since his return from China amid suggestions he has had a stroke, claims the "US embassy has warned all its citizens in Fiji to refrain from taking part in public marches around the country tomorrow." 

Until today, the regime has ignored persistent but unverified talk of a protest march against Bainimarama. But the Fiji Police Force this morning announced that all permits for any public marches around the country had been called off. 

The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement were supposed to march through Suva tomorrow in support of their work to stop violence against women. The NGO Coalition on Human Rights had also organised a march to coincide with World Human Rights Day. Both groups had permits.

It's unlikely Save Fiji Movement had applied for permit, considering the nature of what it claims it is organising.

The unidentified group revealed more than a week ago that it was planning the protest at Sukuna Park tomorrow at midday against Bainimarama and has been quick to denounce today's cancellation of permits and link it to its plans.

A frontman told Coupfourpointfive the group will not change its plans. In a statement the group says "we mean business and we will not be deprived of our rights to be heard by the President." 

The group has said the march will finish with the presentation of a petition to the illegally appointed president, Epeli Nailatikau, urging him to dismantle the Bainimarama government.  

We print here Save Fiji Movement's statement released a short time ago.

To view the above document, click on it and zoom in.

US Embassy explains visa workings after Khaiyum attack

Whingeing by the illegal government has prompted a press statement from the Suva based US Embassy.

Three regime ministers have been refused US visas in the past fortnight, sparking anger from the illegal attorney general and claims of 'deplorable' behaviour from the US:

The United States Government does not comment publicly on individual cases, nor do we adjudicate visa cases through the media.


The U.S. Embassy encourages early visa application for those seeking to travel to the United States for the purpose of attending General Assembly or other meetings of the United Nations.


Early applications are especially important for those identified as participants in, or key supporters of, the December 2006 coup, whose names have been entered on a Department of State visa watch list. Such applications require Washington clearances prior to visa issuance. Because the Embassy must send these applications to the Department of State, where they undergo a rigorous review by several offices and other agencies, processing time may require up to three weeks in some cases.


The Embassy has an exceptional record for processing eligible applicants on time. Cooperation in the timely submission of applications is essential to our continued success in this matter. The United States understands that sometimes requests for travel are made in too short a timeframe for Washington to approve and to provide appropriate courtesies at the port of entry.


The United States takes seriously its obligations under the United Nations Charter to facilitate travel to the United Nations headquarters in New York for participation in meetings in the UN General Assembly and, as appropriate, with UN Secretariat officials. Under its UN Charter obligations, the United States is not obligated to facilitate travel to meetings that do not fall under the Charter or transits to UN meetings outside of New York.-Statement from the US Embassy.

US visa denials could leave pained regime twiddling thumbs

TWIDDLING THUMBS: Kubuabola and Saumatua

The wings of the likes of the widely-travelled illegal  foreign afffairs minister, Inoke Kubuabola (pictured left in this picture), may well have been clipped, if the US decision on visas continues. 

The ubiquitous Kubuabola has a habit of popping up in many places and was one of the last from the regime to be in the US this year (remember that staged picture of him with Clinton?), along with Voreqe Bainimarama.

But it appears the US has taken a stand with the dictatorship and is refusing visas. Three have been denied in the past two weeks - to the illegal chief justice Anthony Gates, the illegal Fisheries Minister, Viliame Naupoto, and the Minister for Local Government and Environment Colonel Samuela Saumatua (pictured above with Kubuabola).

The latter was supposed to leave for Mexico today to attend the 16th Conference on Climate Change. 

The regime, especially Sayed-Khaiyum, is taking the rejections hard, describing the US embassy decisions as deplorable.

The US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, said when she visited New Zealand and Australia recently that America would join forces with the two countries to persuade Suva to return Fiji to democracy. Let's hope the visas is the start of that campaign.

Sayed-Khaiyum spewing more lies

The dictatorship's Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, is quite clearly suffering from Foot in the Mouth Disease, which is evident from his verbal defecation following the United States refusal to grant illegal Chief Justice Anthony Gates a visa.

Gates was to attend the 9th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

1) Sayed-Khaiyum claims Fiji has made progress to ensure compliance with the Rome Statue through promulgation of the Crimes Decree, which now categorises genocide and crimes against humanity as criminal offences. It is a case of pot calling the kettle black. The regime continues to trample on fundamental freedoms and human rights in Fiji, protected by unlawful Decrees that are being legislated by Sayed-Khaiyum.

2) Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji, as a responsible sovereign State, takes international obligations and responsibilities with utmost sincerity. His lie is as visible as his fake personality. What about the betrayal of commitments from the regime via  Sayed-Khaiyum, M P Chaudhry and Epeli Nailatikau, made in April 2007 to the European Union to hold elections in Fiji by March 2009? What about a similar commitment for elections to be held by first quarter of 2009, made by dictator Frank Bainimarama to the Pacific Islands Forum in October 2007? Can Sayed-Khaiyum say that as a sovereign State, the regime that he serves took these responsibilities and obligations with utmost sincerity?

3) Sayed Khaiyum is assuming the United States Embassy will give insufficient time for visa processing as the answer for the refusal! On what basis is he making this assumption?

4) In his attempt to dramatise the issue, Sayed Khaiyum has revealed that he along with the regime's permanent secretary for Fisheries, were also refused visas to travel to the United States this year. Why was Sayed-Khaiyum quiet all this time?

5) Sayed Khaiyum has labelled the US stand deplorable, undignified, demeaning, arbitrary, arrogant and contemptible. This is the harshest language ever used to criticise a member of the international community, and one who has been Fiji's ally.

Do Sayed-Khaiyum, Frank Bainimarama and the military regime therefore have the guts to walk their talk and inflict upon the United States, the treatment that they dished out to Australia and New Zealand for so-called  interference and visa related issues in conformity to their sanctions, by expelling their diplomats?

In June 2007, the regime expelled NZ High Commissioner Michael Green on the basis of interference, which the regime did not specify. In December 2008, the regime expelled acting NZ High Commissioner Caroline McDonald after the son of then permanent secretary to the President (Iloilo) Rupeni Nacewa was refused a student visa to study in New Zealand.

In November 2009, the regime expelled deputy NZ High Commissioner Todd Cleaver and Australian High Commissioner James Batley after accusing both countries of telling Sri Lankans recruited as magistrates and judges by the regime that they would be subjected to travel bans to New Zealand and Australia.

In July this year, the regime expelled Australia's acting High Commissioner Sarah Roberts after accusing her of interference and of influencing Vanuatu to refuse to hand over of the Melanesian Spearhead Group chairmanship to Frank Bainimarama.

The decision by the United States Embassy to refuse the regime's CJ Anthony Gates, Sayed-Khaiyum and permanent secretary for Fisheries travel visas to United States is far more serious on the regime's anti-Fiji behaviour measuring scale.

We will wait and see if the regime and Sayed-Khaiyum dish out similar treatment to US Ambassador Steven McGann and kick him out like five diplomats from Australia and New Zealand, or show the world that the strong condemnation of the US is just showmanship and verbal defecation.

Our final assessment is Sayed Khaiyum will eat his own vomit and come up with excuses to explain his harmless barrage of attack against the United States.

Pictures: Sarah Roberts (top) and Todd Cleaver (below). 

FDFM answers concerns about planned Sukuna Park march

The call for people to march against the military government has caused a lot of debate since the plans were revealed last week on this blog and elsewhere. Part of the reason for the controversy is the lack of information about who is behind the Sukuna Park march and what the motives are. The Fiji Democracy Freedom Movement of Australia says it is supporting the Save Fiji Movement march. Its spokesperson, Usaia Peter Waqatairewa, answers Coupfourpointfive's questions about its own march in Sydney on Sunday and the planned Fiji march.

1) Did the march in Sydney go ahead yesterday and how many people attended? Yes, the march did go ahead and about sixty people attended


2) Where did supporters come from and did they include non-Fijians, eg Australians etc? Our supporters are mainly indigenous Fijians, part Europeans and an Indofijian, plus Mark Manning


3) Does FDFM feel it achieved its goal? We have achieved our goals by having the march go ahead and later on the rally at Martin Place where we gave people the opportunity to speak out. We achieve our goals by being able to march and demonstrate against Voreqe Bainimarama’s regime on the 4th anniversary of the coup. We achieve our goals because most of us left Fiji after the coup and in this great democracy we were able to sing, march and chant out our views of not agreeing with the coup and Voreqe Bainimarama’s dictatorship. These are the things we cannot do at home. The freedom to freely express ourselves and the freedom to gather and protest peacefully, and the freedom of association as members of an organised body of people. Australians took pictures of us and people clapped in support as we walked from the town hall to Martins Place via Hyde Park and Macquarie Street, past the NSW Parliament House.


4) Regarding the Sukuna Park march:


a) Why is FDFM supporting it? We support the right for people to freely express their views and frustration with the current regime. It is the regime’s obligation to ensure their safety but not block them from the basic right to march and their right to free speech, expression, and free fathering.


b) What support is there for the march that you know of? I do not even know who is organising the march but I do support the spirit in which they want to march.


c) Some people are saying key groups like SDL and the Methodist Church are not aware of the march ... what does FDFM have to say about this? If they want to march that is their basic human rights; it is our duty as rights advocate to encourage them. If the Military wants to beat the hell out of them than that is their prerogative and they will have to face the consequence of their action on the international arena. These people are not armed and it is the military that would be the aggressor. Bainimarama and Khaiyum must be aware that the world is watching and do not regret if they end up in the ICC one day. If the Methodist Church and SDL is not aware, then they must try to be aware because if they are not going to organise a march when the people want to march, then people will form another group to do it for them.


d) Does FDFM have concerns about this? Of course, we are concerned because we are mindful of the animalistic aggressive nature of the security forces and the people illegally in charge such as Khaiyum and Bainimarama and the last thing we want to see is people getting hurt but let us not lose sight of the fact that it is the people’s right to march and the PER and this government are the illegal elements not the marchers. This is an illegal government and no one should recognise them. And they have no right to go and start beating up anyone.


3) Does FDFM know the identity of the organiser or organisers of the Save Fiji Movement? We have no idea apart from what we read on the blog.


4) Is FDFM okay about asking people to break PER by marching? We are mindful of the thugs in government and we have not nor initiated this march nor asked people to break the PER. This question should be directed towards the organisers of the march.


5) Does it have any concerns about people getting beaten or worse for attending the march? People have a right to make up their mind and march. These people are adults and can make up their own mind. Let us not patronise them. However we are very concerned that the armed thugs in government will beat them and commit further human rights atrocities. These are fathers and mothers and they have had enough of the hardship brought about by the illegal regime and one must be mindful of the fact that we are dealing with human beings. We are dealing with people who are fathers, mothers and children of someone.


6) If the military is behind the march, is this not a concern for the Secretariat? Why does the military need people to march when it has guns? That is a big concern of ours but if the military are ware and want the people to march then the split in government and the military camp is far bigger then we initially thought. There are obviously certain elements within the RFMF who have had enough and would like to indirectly tell Khaiyum and Bainimarama that they have had enough and are not prepared to do their dirty work anymore by beating up any would-be marchers.


7) Have you seen the petition that is supposedly being prepared for Nailatikau? No but we are preparing one ourselves and already we have had fifty signatures on it.


8) Does the FDFM believe Nailatikau will act on it? We don’t know but given the purported powers given to him under the Executive Authority Decree if 2009 and if he still has any conscience and morals as a high chief of Kubuna, then for once think of the people and the Vanua and do something.

Khaiyum stung by US refusal to grant visa to Gates

BIBLE BASHER: Gates taking oath.

The might of the Bible and the weight of Fiji law as it is today wasn't enough to get the country's illegal chief justice into the United States to attend a United Nations meeting.

Gates, to the outrage of the illegal government, has been denied a visa by US authorities.

He had hightailed it to New York to participate in the four-day 9th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the

International Criminal Court, being held at the UN headquarters.

But his questionable past seems to have been a non-negotiable issue for US authorities. Gates has dual British and Australian citizenship but was one of the first on board after Bainimarama and Josefa Iloilo illegally abrogated the Constitution last year. 

A furious Khaiyum took the US authorities decision hard.  In a statement this afternoon, he said: "Clearly, the failure of the US embassy is specious and demeaning. In diplomatic language, the non-issuance of visa on time effectively tantamounts to a rejection. 

"One wonders whether the same discourteous treatment would have been meted out to a Chief Justice of a more significant State than the small Pacific island country of Fiji.

"This behaviour was arbitrary and arrogant and inconsistent with the spirit behind the purpose of this meeting of State parties. It is much to be

deprecated. No courts treat their litigants or stakeholders in such a way."

The realities of being part of a dictatorship regime is obviously hitting home. 

For the full impact, we print here Khaiyum's statement:

1. The Government of the Republic of Fiji strongly denounces the failure by the embassy of the United States of America to provide the Chief Justice of Fiji, Mr. Justice Anthony Gates, with a visa to represent Fiji at the 9th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court ("Rome Statute"), which is being held at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York from 6 to 10 December 2010. The invitation to this meeting was extended to Fiji by the International Criminal Court ("ICC").

2. Earlier this May, the Attorney-General with Mr. Luke Daunivalu, Fijis' Deputy Representative to the United Nations, had represented Fiji at the meeting for the review of the Rome Statute, which was held in Uganda and was attended by all the States parties to the Rome Statute, as well as a large array of international judges, jurists and international and criminal law experts.

3.  In the last year, Fiji has made substantial progress to ensure full compliance with the Rome Statute, with the implementation of the Crimes Decree ("the Decree"). The Decree contains modernised and internationally accepted provisions on various offences against the international order, including the offence of genocide, crimes against humanity, trafficking in persons and children, people smuggling, piracy, slavery and sexual servitude.

4.  Given such an advanced accomplishment with respect to its laws, which numerous other countries are yet to achieve, it was imperative that Fiji was suitably represented by our senior-most judicial officer. As such, the Fijian Government, at the invitation of the ICC, had nominated the Chief Justice to represent Fiji at this important meeting. The ICC secretariat, in consultation with Fiji's representative to the UN, had already confirmed an allocated time for Justice Gates to make a presentation on behalf of Fiji, on Tuesday morning (7 December 2010).

5.  It is most unfortunate and gravely disappointing that Fiji was, yet again, frustrated in its attempts to adequately make representations to this meeting of the ICC, including meetings of other international organisations in which Fiji is active participant, as a result of this contemptible conduct on the part of the US embassy.

6. Fiji, as a responsible sovereign State, and the Fijian Government take international responsibilities and obligations with utmost sincerity. In relation to the Rome Statute, Fiji is entitled to inform and update this meeting of eminent jurists and international law experts about the developments and progress made by Fiji in relation to the implementation of the Rome Statute

7.  The Chief Justice was unable to attend this meeting because the American authorities failed to issue him with an entry visa. His application was initiated and lodged with the US embassy within sufficient time.

8. Whilst no formal message declining the visa has been issued, as sual it will be said there was insufficient time to process the application, or that the visa would have been issued eventually.

9.  It is noted that this deplorable and undignified stand has recently been taken by the US embassy in relation to applications for visa by the Attorney-General, who had in October been scheduled to attend the UN General Assembly with the Prime Minister. Similarly, the Permanent Secretary for Fisheries & Forests has also not been given a visa to represent Fiji at the annual session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, scheduled in Hawaii from 5 to 10 December 2010.

10.    Clearly, the failure of the US embassy is specious and demeaning. In diplomatic language, the non-issuance of visa on time effectively tantamounts to a rejection. One wonders whether the same discourteous treatment would have been meted out to a Chief Justice of a more significant State than the small Pacific island country of Fiji.

11. This behaviour was arbitrary and arrogant and inconsistent with the spirit behind the purpose of this meeting of State parties. It is much to be deprecated. No courts treat their litigants or stakeholders in such a way.

12. Fiji will now be represented at this meeting by its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Peter Thomson and his deputy, Mr. Luke Daunivalu.

Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum

(Illegal) Attorney General

Two more DPP lawyers get the boot

The DPP deputy - Ratu David Toganivalu - and another lawyer, Ana Tuiketei, have been fired. 

Both were given termination letters today by the illegal solictor general Christopher Pryde.

Toganivalu was involved in a number of the regime's major cases, including that of the eight men accused of plotting to kill the self-appointed prime minister Frank Bainimarama.

Tuiketei will be remembered for the more recent case involving the Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry. 

She last week opposed an application by Chaudhry to access his Sydney bank accounts but unbelievably decided not to oppose his travel plans.

Chauhdry was today granted permission to travel to Australia to seek medical treatment from December the 20th to January the 6th but has been put on fresh bail of $1,000.

Lest we forget: Baini's promises when he toppled Qarase

Baini in 2006: "We trust that the new government will lead us into peace and prosperity and mend the ever widening racial divide that currently besets our multicultural nation."

Four years ago today Frank Bainimarama began his 'clean-up campaign', after months of speculation and rumours and an ultimatum for Qarase to meet the military's demands or resign.

It began on December 4 with the army confiscating ammunition at the Police headquarters in Nasinu then removing weapons from the armoury at Nasova Police Academy in Suva.

Shoppers and workers in Suva city had already got a whiff of what was coming via the coconut wireless and shops started to close as memories of the 2000 coup re-surfaced. Businesses were torched and looted during during that coup following a march by Nationalists.

Chaos broke out in Suva city as people scrambled to get taxis and buses to get home. After three coups in Fiji, people had come to know the rumours were usually right.

International and local media rushed to Nasinu to get pictures and to follow the unfolding drama. While there, they discovered the Nasova police base was being taken over and rushed back there.

At Nasova, soldiers packed their military trucks with weapons from the armoury and left. A few armed soldiers stayed to guard the armoury. Ironically, a police graduation was taking place on the grounds. The new recruits marched as the soldiers took over their armoury.

The Acting Police commissioner at the time, Moses Driver, called a press conference and said the military action was unlawful but Bainimarama said it had to be done to stop the police and army from fighting each other.

Roadblocks were set up at various places around Suva, including at Government House. Qarase tried to avoid the checkpoints by helicoptering to his home.

The next morning (December 5), soldiers surrounded the offices of government ministers and placed them under house arrest after taking their cars and phones.

Outside Qarase's house, media waited to see how the military would arrest the SDL leader, who was holed up inside. Police guards were outside.

A van with 3 soldiers drove up to his driveway and tried to enter the compound. They tried to convince police to let them through, but the latter refused. The van left.
 
Half an hour later two truckloads of soldiers arrived. They closed off the street to Qarase's house and chased the media away.

Qarase's supporters from the Methodist church arrived and started praying and singing. Everyone waited.
 

Frank Bainimarama was meanwhile meeting with President, Josefa Iloilo, who signed a legal order dissolving Parliament.
 

But a press release from Iloilo's office that same day said he did not endorse the coup and the soldiers were acting against his orders.

On December 6 at a press conference at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Bainimarama announced that he had taken control of the government and he had executive authority to run the country.

In his speech he accused Qarase of corruption and of being racist:

"As of today, the military has taken over the government ...RFMF over the years have been raising security concerns with the government, in particular the  introduction of controversial bills, and policies that have divided the nation now and will have very serious consequences to our future generations.

"These concerns have been conveyed to the Prime Minister in all fairness and sincerity with the country’s interest at heart.

"Apparently, all RFMF concerns were never accepted with true spirit. All my efforts to the government were to no avail. Instead, they turned their attention on the RFMF itself. 

"Despite my advice, they tried to remove me and create dissension within the ranks of the RFMF; the institution that stood up and redirected the Nation from the path of doom that the Nation was being led to in 2000.

"Qarase has already conducted a ‘silent coup’ through bribery, corruption and introduction of controversial Bill.

"Our position can be differentiated from the Qarase Government which for example through the passing of the Reconciliation, Qoliqoli and Land Claims will undermine the Constitution.

"When the country is stable and the Electoral Rolls and other machineries of Elections have been properly reviewed and amended, elections will be held. 

"We trust that the new government will lead us into peace and prosperity and mend the ever widening racial divide that currently besets our multicultural nation."