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Reports from Fiji are confusing but it appears that up 60 people have been charged with sedition in three separate cases.
Twelve people from Nadroga-Navosa were scheduled to appear in the Sigatoka Magistrates Court on Monday morning but were later informed that the case will be heard in Nadi.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pride says there is no evidence to suggest these people are related to a group from Ra that has also been charged with sedition, nor is it related to members of an alleged para-military training group facing the same charges.
The Fiji Police Commissioner, Ben Groenewald, has described a group of men conducting military-style training in the hills of the northern province Ra as more like members of a cult who pose no threat to national security.
The Fiji Sun has reported that authorities believe a British Army veteran has been overseeing secret military training as part of a plot to form a breakaway “Christian” state.
The group has been accused of engaging in military training where a movement has reportedly been pushing to break away and declare the Ra Sovereign Christian State.
An expert on Melanesia, Jenny Hayward-Jones, from the Lowy Institute in Sydney, said the British army veteran was “more likely to be a Fijian” than a British citizen.
“There may well be retired British officers living in Fiji but I am not sure if there are younger ones who are energised to do this sort of activity,” she said.
37 people in three separate groups appeared in court last week, facing charges such as sedition and inciting communal antagonism.
Groenewald says there is no indication the group is political in any way.
He says there’s no confirmation the men had been training with weapons, rather he believes they may have had wooden replica guns.
Fiji’s prime minster, Voreqe Bainimarama, has refused to comment specifically on the cases, but reinforced the police commissioner’s statement that the groups posed no threat to national security.
He says there is no threat to i’Taukei or Christianity, and anyone who swears an illegal oath or encourages political violence will face the full force of the law.
Bainimarama said people should not follow instructions that could land them in jail.
“We should not tolerate any form of instability and we should not be swayed by those who wish to divide us,” he said.
A lawyer representing some of the arrested said they were ready to take a quick trial date.
The court was told of the extensive media coverage on the case and concern was raised that it would not be fair on the accused persons.
But the State’s lawyer said some disclosures were yet to be filed.
He asked for two weeks to serve the information. The case will be called in September.
Source
- radionz.co.nz
- fijitimes.com
- fjitimes.com
- radionz.co.nz
- fijitimes.com
- newindianexpress.com
- telegraph.co.uk
- radionz.co.nz
- Image: telegraph.co.uk
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News category: Asia Pacific.
