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Issue No: 842; 12 June 2001
Naitasiri High Chief, also called the Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata has been charged with 3 counts of conspiracy in the 2 November failed mutiny and attempted coup. Takiveikata was brought to court yesterday and bailed for $1000 by magistrate Amaniasi Katovualiku. Takiveikata was implicated by the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit soldiers now in detention for the failed mutiny. The soldiers claimed that Takiveikata was the main instigator of the mutiny. He had approached two officers from Naitasiri Province to carry out the mutiny. The two had agreed but wanted to do it "when the time was right for them". He also had approached another officer who later gave the order for the mutiny. Takiveikata had become a public figure after he appeared as a negotiator with the terrorists who had taken over the Parliament Complex last year. It was widely known that Takiveikata was a strong supporter of the terrorists, but because of his chiefly status, he was not taken to task for this by the media or the public. It, however, took the death of ethnic Fijian soldiers and a plot to kill the military commander, to get Takiveikata to justice. Other prominent people are still walking free. During the recent months, Takiveikata was prominent in
launching a new political party which involved the Naitasiri province and the
Qarase regime ministers. Takiveikata was elected as a vice-president of the
party called Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL). Qarase is the leader of this
party. It is known that Takiveikata is using this position to lobby Qarase for
the release of the terrorists. Inside sources in SDL confirm that Qarase had
agreed to "do everything possible" to get the terrorists released if
he won the election and became the elected Prime Minister of Fiji. |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
