More talk of military coup in Fiji: fugitive colonel

Many in the Fiji military are fed up with Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama, according to fugitive Fijian military commander Tevita Mara. File photo / Greg Bowker

Fugitive Fijian military commander Tevita Mara says many in the Fiji military are fed up with Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and there is talk of another military coup in the Pacific Island nation.

Lieutenant Colonel Mara, who fled Fiji for Tonga in May and has been accused of trying to overthrow the regime, arrived in New Zealand last night under a five-day visa to meet Government officials.

Cmdre Bainimarama, who came into power following a coup in 2006, has declared Lt Col Mara a fugitive and has sought to have him extradited from Tonga, Australia and New Zealand to face sedition charges -- for allegedly making anti-government comments.

Lt Col Mara told Radio New Zealand tonight anti-Bainamarama sentiment in the military was growing in Fiji, with more than half not agreeing with the regime and a "significant'' number wanted to get rid of him.

Another coup had been spoken of according to his sources, but he did not want to see that happen again, preferring a more constitutional path towards democracy, he said.

The New Zealand-based Coalition for Democracy in Fiji has laid a complaint with police here, saying there were reasonable grounds to believe that Lt Col Mara had committed an act of torture in Fiji.

Police say they are considering the complaint.

Lt Col Mara said he was surprised by the allegations and denied torture had taken place under his command.

He said he was prepared to answer any questions from New Zealand police and the torture allegations were "false and mischievous'', he told the broadcaster.

He said he had never been involved directly or indirectly involved in torture. Neither were the nearly 500 soldiers under his command.

"Most of the human rights abuses that are happening in Fiji right up till today have been conducted by a certain group of soldiers who are directly under Bainimarama.''

Lt Col Mara today also met with Green MP Keith Locke.

Mr Locke said he agreed with Lt Col Mara that effective action against the regime would be stopping Fijian soldiers taking part in UN peacekeeping operations, which "only put money into the army coffers''.

- NZPA