Fiji seeks help in coup probe

By HELEN TUNNAH deputy political editor

New Zealand police are still considering whether to send detectives to help Fiji's police investigate the political uprisings of 2000 and any involvement by former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

Fiji's new Police Commissioner, Australian Andrew Hughes, has asked for independent help to oversee inquiries into the George Speight-led coup in May and other acts of rebellion that year, including a failed military mutiny.

Rabuka, who led two coups in Fiji in 1987 before being elected Prime Minister, has been named in investigations into the unrest and was seen at the military barracks on the day of the mutiny.

He has denied any involvement.

Fiji police told the Herald yesterday that New Zealand detectives would also be asked to oversee inquiries into the roles of the Army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, and his former military spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini.

The request for help comes as 35 New Zealand police work in the Solomon Islands to restore law and order, which has deteriorated since a coup just weeks after Speight's rebellion.

Hughes, an Australian federal policeman, has stepped up inquiries since arriving in Fiji in June.

A number of prominent chiefs, business leaders and politicians have been charged or linked in evidence to the 2000 coup, which toppled the Government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, an ethnic Indian.

He and members of his Government were held hostage for eight weeks before Speight was arrested.

Fiji police spokesman Mesake Koroi told the Herald yesterday that Hughes wanted some independence in the inquiries because of the influential people who were to be investigated.

"We will be looking at fairly senior people. These investigations could mean a lot of political implications and it could have a lot of repercussions.

"We are trying to make sure the investigations are carried out with the proper procedures," said Koroi.

"Mr Rabuka is among those being investigated. It also includes the files on the commander of the Fiji military forces and a few other prominent people ...

"We need to get to the bottom of this rather than looking at it from a biased point of view. That is the reason why Commissioner Hughes has requested the New Zealand police to come in and look at some of these files."

While New Zealand police would oversee inquiries, final decisions on whether charges would be laid rest with Fiji's Director of Public Prosecutions, Joe Naigulevu, and his assistant, Australian Peter Ridgway.

New Zealand police spokesman Rob Lee said the request for help was being considered.

It was not known when a decision would be made.

A Government spokesman said police would decide. No request for aid money to help pay for officers has been made.