SUVA - Deposed Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was expected to be interviewed by Fiji police today over allegations of treason in the wake of the Pacific nation's military coup.
Qarase remains on his isolated home island of Vanuabalavu, banished there following the military coup in December.
Police
are investigating whether he should be charged with treason over allegations he called for armed intervention from Australia and New Zealand to prevent the military takeover. Qarase denies making the request.
"I can confirm that two police officers arrived by air today and the purpose of their coming is to interview me in relation to the complaint launched by the military to the police and I believe the allegations I attempted to commit treason or something to that effect," Qarase told Fiji radio.
"I am prepared to give them information that is required of me and I will tell them the truth.
"Really I have no worries about it."
Fiji's Acting Police Commissioner Romanu Tikotikoca would not comment, saying he needed to be briefed by his senior officers.
Meanwhile, Qarase questioned the integrity and the independence of the police force after they dropped an investigation into coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
Qarase said the investigation was handled unfairly and unjustly.
"The independence of the police is the first issue - the police have stopped their investigation on Bainimarama on some of the very serious offences that were committed by him - at the same time they are investigating me for some fairly wild allegations as far as the case is concerned," he said.
"It is a sad day for Fiji because the law has been applied differently to two people for certain allegations in relations to their alleged actions - this is of course not fair and as a citizen of this country I am prepared to give my side of the story."
Tikotikoca said police were not pressured by the military to drop charges against Bainimarama.
- AAP
