Pacific

Fiji Senator calls for investigation into coups and bank collapse

12:49 pm on 28 May 2003

A Fiji senator has called for a thorough investigation into the 1987 and 2000 coups as well as the collapse of the former National Bank of Fiji.

Senator Ratu Josefa Dimuri told the upper house that people cannot be expected to abide by the law if those responsible for causing national instability are not brought to justice.

The Fiji Sun says Ratu Josefa, of the pro-coup Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua party, is facing charges in connection with the coup-related Labasa army mutiny.

He says the investigation has to go all the way back to 1987 when Sitiveni Rabuka carried out his two military coups, because prominent people involved in those, remain unpunished.

Ratu Josefa sasy the country needs a Truth Commission so that people can come freely and say what they know about events from 1987 until now.

He says despite the involvement of many prominent indigenous Fijians in the 1987 coup, there have been no prosecutions although their identities are well known to the police.