November 4, 2007

By Michael Field

   Fiji soldiers have seized a New Zealand citizen and seriously injured him claiming he was involved in a murky plot to assassinate military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama on the seventh anniversary of another murder bid.

   Military appointed Police Commissioner Elesa Teleni claimed Fiji born Ballu Khan was a key figure in the murder plot.

   He also said "certain lurking nations" nearby were involved.

   Fiji's military has been upset with Australia and New Zealand but he did not name them.

   "We have rounded up individuals in the alleged plot in the assassination of the (Bainimarama) and others and we suspect that initiation will involve arms and explosives," Captain Teleni told a press conference.

   At least 11 people have been seized and an area around Suva's Central Police Station (CPS) was locked down by the military.

   Witnesses say soldiers grabbed Mr Khan at a checkpoint between Nadi and Suva on Saturday. He suffered some kind of physical injury and was taken to a private hospital before being locked up at the police station.

   New Zealand diplomats attempted to see Mr Khan but were stopped by soldiers and police.

   Fiji human rights activist Shamima Ali has told the Fiji Times that Mr Khan was seriously injured when soldiers delivered him to the Suva Central Police Station.

   "The brutality by the military is unacceptable, illegal and unconstitutional," she said.

   Mr Khan's Auckland sister Nur, said her brother was seized on Saturday as he drove from Nadi to Suva.

   "Its just unbelievable," she said.

   "Where is the proof? They have just grabbed him...   The New Zealand Government should step and do something."

   Commodore Bainimarama staged a coup last December, removing the elected government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. His whereabouts last night was unknown amidst fears the military would seize him as well.\

   It was feared also that the military would re-impose martial law.

   Few details were offered by Captain Teleni  of the plot to kill the Commodore but a picture was emerging of  a military chasing ghosts from the George Speight coup of 2000 which overthrew Mahendra Chaudhry. Oddly some of the figures caught up in it, including Mr Khan, are key members of Fiji's rugby leadership.

   The 2000 coup was staged with the aid of the military's Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) special forces group. After the Speight coup was over some CRW soldiers on November 2, 2000 mounted a mutiny aimed at killing Commodore Bainimamara.

   Eight soldiers died in the mutiny including five CRW who, later medical evidence showed, had been tortured to death after surrender.

   Among those arrested then was Ratu Inoke Taikiveikata who commands powerful Naitasiri, Speight's province. On four counts of inciting mutiny he was jailed for life but in June he was freed by the Fiji Court of Appeal which ordered a re-trial.

   Mr Taikiveikata is also in custody.

   Commodore Bainimarama's coup has increasingly been associated with Fiji's Indian population who make up 38 percent of the country. They have seemingly benefited most from it, personified in Mr Chaudhry who is the military appointed Finance Minister. Persistent rumours of an indigenous uprising have been around for a while.

   Captain Teleni, whose language was strange and disjointed, said a plot had been "well planned" and training had been conducted. He admitted they had not found any weapons or explosives.

   "It has become evident that these individuals are adamant in their mission".

   He said the police and the military had taken "the necessary actions to neutralize the security threat".

   More arrests would be made this week.

   He claimed non-government organisations and neighbouring countries, which he did not name, were behind the plot.

   "We have rounded up individuals in the alleged plot in the assassination of the Prime Minister and others and we suspect that initiation will involve arms and explosives."

   The plot was aimed at disrupting Fiji's peaceful environment.

   "There are efforts being made to create an unfavourable environment, that may provide excuses to certain lurking nations to interfere in the affairs
of Fiji," he said."

   Mr Khan founded Tui Management Services, a software supplier, and was on the board of Pacific Connex Ltd, a cellphone company he co-owned with the Vanua Development Corporation (VDC), an off-shot of the indigenous Native Lands Trust Board.

   Last year Pacific Connex was in a battle to win the right to start a cellphone service and was lobbying then Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party.

   Mr Khan courted controversy by visiting Mr Taikiveikata while he was in jail and allegedly promising the SDL money if his joint venture won a cellphone license. VDC chairman Keni Dakuidreketi is also chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union.

   Three days after the latest coup the military raided the offices of Pacific Connex. hey claimed its security was provided by CRW soldiers linked to the Speight coup and mutiny.

Copyright: Michael Field