Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara, Former Fiji army commander, denies the accusations of torture against him, which he claims are false and mischievous
Colonel Mara is in New Zealand to meet with the Fiji community and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFat) to discuss the level of human rights abuse, which he says is deteriorating every day in Fiji.
Colonel Mara says close to 50 soldiers directly under the country’s military ruler, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, have been involved in torture, but neither he nor soldiers under his command ever took part.
The Auckland-based Coalition for Democracy in Fiji has filed a criminal complaint with police in New Zealand for his alleged role in torture at the Suva military barracks.
Colonel Mara says he is prepared to be questioned by police about torture allegations but that he’s surprised by the coalition’s move given the positive correspondence he’s had with its president, Nik Naidu.
He says in internet correspondence before he came to New Zealand, Mr Naidu told him he would like to see all people and organisations with a positive interest in Fiji working together to find acceptable solutions for its future.
At a media briefing in Auckland on Wednesday morning, Colonel Mara said soldiers are as repressed as the civilian population and there is a definite split within the military, with just 50 people who still support the regime.
Colonel Mara, who has been highly critical of the Fiji government since he fled to Tonga earlier this year, says he would go back to Fiji if he could, but believes he would be detained and tortured.
The group behind his visit, the Fiji Freedom and Democracy Movement, acknowledges some people are opposed to him being here.
But its president Josaia Rasiga says those against the visit can put their concerns to Colonel Mara directly at a public gathering in Auckland on Saturday.
Mr Rasiga, a former Fiji police officer who is now a refugee in New Zealand, says it is important Colonel Mara visit.
Source: Radio New Zealand
Image: TV3