The Fijian leader, Frank Bainimarama, has strongly denied claims made by two prominent former local journalists – writing in the New Zealand media – that he made three coup attempts before his successful takeover in December 2006.
In his interview with Grubsheet in Suva, the Fijian leader said the allegations were “not true”. In the case of 2000, Lal and Hunter report that Bainimarama demanded that the military should be given the authority to rule Fiji for 50 years but this was opposed by the then president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
Denying the account, Commodore Bainimarama said he was already in control of Fiji in 2000. “For their information, I was in charge of the nation in 2000, so I took over in 2000. I gave the government to (Laisenia) Qarase”. The Prime Minister said it was historical fact that he had handed the reins of power to Laisenia Qarase hoping that he would govern for all Fijians and not just the indigenous majority. “Everyone knows the story of 2000 when I came in, so why they change this and (have) people believing it, I don’t know”.
Source:
- GrubSheet
- Image: FijiVillage.com