Naivalurua was at the Australian War College when the 2000 coup happened; he came down to Fiji, went into Parliament, physically manhandled his brother and dragged him out. Later, he supported the coup from outside. He also remains at large for being one of the ten balaclava hooded soldiers who stormed Parliament in 1987 to overthrow Dr Timoci Bavadra and his government - in conspiracy with Sitiveni Rabuka's
"Operation Kidacala (Surprise)".
As for Frank Bainimarama, his own role in the overthrow of the Chaudhry government is shrouded in mystery and allegations of his tacit complicity remain rife, for he had refused to appear and give evidence before the Board of Inquiry into the role of the CRW soldiers in the events of 2000.
We reiterate that the RFMF was not the principal saviour of the Indo-Fijians in 2000; if anything, their duplicitous role and the appointment of Laisenia Qarase and his hardliner nationalists to run an Interim Administration exacerbated the plight, beatings, rape, and violence against Indo-Fijians throughout Fiji.
VICTOR LAL: "Many of my own relatives in Tailevu were beaten up and one of my cousins (despite being a fluent native Fijian speaker was threatened with RAPE if she did not hand over money and jewellery (which she did); later the whole family (including small children and babies) hid in the bushes for several days. There was no sign or appearance of Bainimarama's army to rescue them. The poor cousin of mine later died, cursing Bainimarama and the RFMF until her death. 2000 was not the FIRST TIME. In 1987, many relatives and my own mother hid in the bushes or under the beds from mad dog racist on the loose - SITIVENI RABUKA - now leading SODELPA. Cry, the beloved country'
Fijileaks: What about Indo-Fijian businessmen whom Mahendra Chaudhry and others (including CRW soldiers) accused of financing the 2000 coup; many are today prominent FFP supporters
Also, it is not acceptable for FFP or for that matter, any political party, to claim that it is the only party that can guarantee the safety and security of Indo-Fijians (and Fiji); the implication is that that party is the only one which can rely on the RFMF and the Police to heed its call for intervention. The RFMF and the Police must be above politics but must respond to any government of the day if requested to step in to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the country
"The week before the [2000 coup], that was 24 hours before he [Bainimarama] left for Norway (12 May) I told him that the coup was in a week's time from that day." Lt-Col Viliame Seruvakula to BOI
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To be continued!
From Fiji Labour Party website, 24 February 2003:
Punjas Lautoka Factory Burnt Down
A Punja and Sons factory was razed by fire on Wednesday night, a day after claims in the High Court in Suva that the company had financed the May 2000 coup.
The Ocean Soaps Company building, which was 50-years old, on Sautamata Street, in the Namoli industrial area, was completely destroyed, causing millions of dollars in damage.
Police force are investigating the cause of the fire, although they have not ruled out foul play. Police could not establish whether the property and its contents were insured.
The premises were well secured with security officers manning the gates on a 24-hour basis. The building was well fenced and workers were doing shift work inside when fire broke out at about 11:30 pm.
Workers on the night shift and the security officer on duty were taken in for questioning.
The Managing Director of Punja and Sons Nitin Punja said they did not have access to the site and as such were not able to access the full extent of damage and did no say anything on the future of workers in the soap factory.
The Company claimed they had been receiving threats after Salesi Tuitagalele, a witness in the treason trial of Josefa Nata and Timoci Silatolu, made allegations linking the company along with C J Patel as financiers of the May 19, 2000 coup.
Public reacted strongly to the allegations and staff of Punja and Sons were continuously sworn at and verbally abused on the street, a day after the allegations were made in Suva’s High Court.
The employees who could not handle the insults went home and changed out of their uniforms. Punja and Sons had advised all their staffs not to wear the company uniforms or carry Punjas logo for their personal safety.
Punjas Lautoka Factory Burnt Down
A Punja and Sons factory was razed by fire on Wednesday night, a day after claims in the High Court in Suva that the company had financed the May 2000 coup.
The Ocean Soaps Company building, which was 50-years old, on Sautamata Street, in the Namoli industrial area, was completely destroyed, causing millions of dollars in damage.
Police force are investigating the cause of the fire, although they have not ruled out foul play. Police could not establish whether the property and its contents were insured.
The premises were well secured with security officers manning the gates on a 24-hour basis. The building was well fenced and workers were doing shift work inside when fire broke out at about 11:30 pm.
Workers on the night shift and the security officer on duty were taken in for questioning.
The Managing Director of Punja and Sons Nitin Punja said they did not have access to the site and as such were not able to access the full extent of damage and did no say anything on the future of workers in the soap factory.
The Company claimed they had been receiving threats after Salesi Tuitagalele, a witness in the treason trial of Josefa Nata and Timoci Silatolu, made allegations linking the company along with C J Patel as financiers of the May 19, 2000 coup.
Public reacted strongly to the allegations and staff of Punja and Sons were continuously sworn at and verbally abused on the street, a day after the allegations were made in Suva’s High Court.
The employees who could not handle the insults went home and changed out of their uniforms. Punja and Sons had advised all their staffs not to wear the company uniforms or carry Punjas logo for their personal safety.
