published 13 December 2000

Media release

At no point did Police Commissioner Isikia Savua officially warn the People's Coalition that plans were afoot to overthrow the elected government, contrary to claims made by Mesake Koroi in his weekly column.

"Mesake Koroi has used this column in recent weeks and months to peddle a number of lies about the People's Coalition and its policies," assistant Information Minister in the People's Coalition Government, Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi said.

In his latest two columns Koroi accuses the People's Coalition Government of ignoring warnings from Police Commissioner Isikia Savua of a possible overthrow of the government and of not taking these warnings seriously.
Secondly, he accuses Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry of overruling Home Affairs Minister Jioji Uluinakauvadra's decision to cancel the march of May 19.

Thirdly, he criticises the Prime Minister of moving too fast on the land issue without winning the confidence of the Fijian people.

The truth is that the People's Coalition Government was quite concerned about the protest marches and other tactics resorted to by dissidents to destabilise the country

As a result Government was holding regular security briefings with the Police Commissioner and his deputies on the matter. The last such meeting was a Cabinet briefing on 11 April, 2000 attended by Mr Savua, his deputy Moses Driver, ASP Jahir Khan and Director Special Branch Berenado Daveta.

These men assured Cabinet there was no need to worry, everything was under control. When we referred them to reports we were getting of plots being hatched at dissident meetings to undermine the government, they told us these were alarmist reports with no basis. They kept saying they did not wish to alarm the Prime Minister and the Cabinet with such baseless reports.

Similar assurances were being given to the Home Affairs Minister and assistant minister Ahmed Gaffar at their weekly meetings with Police and Home Affairs officials.
It is therefore mischievous of Mesake Koroi to claim that the Government had wilfully ignored warnings of a possible insurrection.

Police Commissioner Savua deliberately misled government
The point is that the Police Commissioner and his deputies deliberately misled the Cabinet on what was happening. This is not surprising considering that elements in the Police Force were colluding and conniving with dissident groups to overthrow the Government.

It must also be realised that the Police Commissioner's position is an independent one and that Government can only advice him not issue directives to him. This is precisely what happened on May 19. Government had asked for stringent security measures to be taken in view of rumours of disturbances that were likely to take place.
Government had also called for the movements of key dissidents to be closely monitored in the 24-hours preceding the coup. This was obviously not done and Mr Savua should explain why.

In fact, Police Commissioner Savua has a lot of explaining to do to the people of Fiji starting off with why he suddenly took sick leave on Thursday, the day before the march. Other questions Mr Savua needs to answer why:
·. he did not order security to be stepped up on the streets of Suva and around Parliament in view of all the rumours that were flying
·. on the fateful Friday of the march, he closeted himself with his executives having a meeting till 10.30am instead of ensuring adequate security measures had been taken along the route to prevent any disturbances or lawlessness taking place.
·. why he locked up equipment for the riot force and why he did not call out the police riot force when looting began downtown. We are reliably informed that the mobile force finally made an independent decision to move into the city and quell the rioting but, as we all know, by then the worst was over.
·. Mr Savua should also explain where he was at the height of the crisis when riots broke out in the city and the insurrection in Parliament took place. Attempts by Senators and other concerned senior citizens to locate Commissioner Savua for hours after this was unsuccessful. No-one knew where he was. When he finally showed up in the city early afternoon , he did not look sick at all.

Are these actions of a Police Commissioner likely to inspire any confidence in his competence or commitment to his responsibilities? One could go on providing examples of the failure of the Police Force to ensure law and order during this period of crisis but the public is well aware of how Mr Savua failed in his responsibilities.

The truth is before the people of Fiji and no amount of misinformation by Mesake Koroi or other supporters of the interim regime can detract from this.

END
Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi
Assistant Minister for Information
People's Coalition Office
Suva
Fax: 380985.