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Issue No: 779-b; 11 October 2000
The Fiji-Australia Business Council has invited Lt.Col. Filipo Tarakinikini to be the chief guest at its joint meeting in Australia between 22 and 24 October. Council spokesperson Mark Halabe told the media in Fiji that Tarakinikini was invited because he was a well-known figure in Fiji and his insights of the "coup" and subsequent events. He is supposed to speak on "Anecdotes from the Coup". Unconfirmed reports received show that Tarakinikini was implicated by George Speight over the weekend as one of his 4 senior military persons inside the army. The military immediately stripped the 4 of responsibilities and placed Tarakinikini on house arrest. The other 3 implicated are - Raduva (Military Land Force Commander); Gukibau (A.D.C to President K.K.T Mara); Etuweni Caucau (Military Lawyer). The military is currently investigating the roles of its own people in the terrorist take-over. Tarakinikini has been rumoured to be a key player in the terrorist activity. Just weeks before 19 May, the Police Commissioner, Isikia Savua, wanted to bring Tarakinikini into the Police Force. His recommendation to the Home Affairs Ministry that Tarakinikini be brought in from the army to the police force to replace Jahir Khan, the officer in charge of Police Operations, for a year, was not acted on my the Ministry. Tarakinikini's invitation was arranged by garment manufacturer
Mark Halabe. Fiji-Australia Business Council expects about 100 delegates to
attend the meeting at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sanctuary Cove, Queensland. Other
speakers from Fiji are regimes Trade Minister Kailopate Tavola and Commerce
Minister Tomasi Vuetilovoni, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji and CEO of
the Fiji Trade and Investment Board, Jesoni Vitusagavulu. |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
