PLOTTER? In 2010, he was accused of plotting to overthrow Aiyaz Khaiyum. But a decade earlier, he was accused of stopping Fiji Police from carrying out CWR murder investigations against Frank Bainimarama. Brigadier-General Aziz Mohammed was also behind the demand that FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry be removed as the regime's then Interim Minister of Finance over the tax allegations. Even after Bainimarama had signed Chaudhry's termination letter, Aziz Mohammed refused to budge when Bainimarama had organized a breakfast at his (Bainimarama's) home inviting his Military Council to hear Chaudhry out. The Brigadier-General insisted that Chaudhry must be booted out. After all, in January 2007, he had frogmarched the Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki out of his chambers and a special tribunal inquiry had been announced to investigate Fatiaki over his own tax matters, which Fatiaki had taken advantage of under Chaudhry's Tax Amnesty Decree. Correspondence relating to Chaudhry in our Founding Editor-in-Chief's possession reveal how Chaudhry tried to persuade Bainimarama that our Founding Editor-in-Chief, who had revealed the Interim Finance Minister's secret $2million in Sydney, was attempting to divide the Military Council (for both the Brigadier-General and our Founding Editor-in-Chief were old 'Kai Raiwaqa Boys' ) and to weaken the Interim Government. Even Aiyaz Khaiyum had desptached his then Solicitor-General Christopher Prdye to the Fiji Sun, demanding the publication of a rebuttal letter where our Founding Editor-in-Chief had demanded that Chaudhry's own tax file should be included in the Fatiaki Tribunal. The Brigadier-General Aziz Mohammed broke ranks, demanding that Mahendra Chaudhry MUST be removed or resign from the INTERIM Government. History repeats itself in Fiji, except the
OLD ACTORS now singing new TUNES against their former treasonist colleagues
Excerpt from a letter by Interim Finance Minister Chaudhry to Bainimarama
24 February, 2008
Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama
Prime Minister& Minister for Public Service
Peoples Charter for Change, Information,
Provincial Development Indigenous
& Multi-Ethnic Affairs
Government Buildings
Suva
Dear Prime Minister
"As we all know in politics, if you throw enough mud often enough some will stick....With this large dead cat dragged over my reputation as Finance Minister, I think it is imperative that you are in a position to establish that this Government remains steadfastly committed to applying high standards of good governance. With the support of my Ministry, I have worked very hard as Finance Minister to try to reverse the extraordinary legacy of financial mismanagement that we inherited from the previous government. I do not now want to see the financial credibility of Fiji eroded through unfair reporting of my private affairs.
In view of the above, please note that FIRCA has today issued a statement which states that the allegations of tax evasion on my part are not established. I would like also to propose that you establish to your satisfaction with the authorities concerned, as to what is the true position.
I wish to also inform you that I am taking legal action against the Fiji Times for defamation. The Fiji Sun and its correspondent Victor Lal are also being sued. A media statement I have issued to this effect is attached for your information.
Yours sincerely
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry
Minister for Finance, National Planning, Sugar Industry
& Public Utilities (Water and Energy)
Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama
Prime Minister& Minister for Public Service
Peoples Charter for Change, Information,
Provincial Development Indigenous
& Multi-Ethnic Affairs
Government Buildings
Suva
Dear Prime Minister
"As we all know in politics, if you throw enough mud often enough some will stick....With this large dead cat dragged over my reputation as Finance Minister, I think it is imperative that you are in a position to establish that this Government remains steadfastly committed to applying high standards of good governance. With the support of my Ministry, I have worked very hard as Finance Minister to try to reverse the extraordinary legacy of financial mismanagement that we inherited from the previous government. I do not now want to see the financial credibility of Fiji eroded through unfair reporting of my private affairs.
In view of the above, please note that FIRCA has today issued a statement which states that the allegations of tax evasion on my part are not established. I would like also to propose that you establish to your satisfaction with the authorities concerned, as to what is the true position.
I wish to also inform you that I am taking legal action against the Fiji Times for defamation. The Fiji Sun and its correspondent Victor Lal are also being sued. A media statement I have issued to this effect is attached for your information.
Yours sincerely
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry
Minister for Finance, National Planning, Sugar Industry
& Public Utilities (Water and Energy)