FIJI: Soldiers face murder charges
Updated
Fiji's military spokesman is questioning the timing of the warrants issued by the Department of Public Prosecutions for the arrest of six soldiers. Lieutenant Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga says the soldiers and a policemen were prevented at the weekend from leaving Fiji for a tour of duty in Iraq. The seven men have been charged over the murder of 19-year old Sakiusa Rabaka who died at home after allegedly being beaten while in military custody earlier this year. Colonel Tikoitoga denies the military was trying to avoid the charges by sneaking their personnel out of the country.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speakers: Lieutenant Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga, spokesman Fiji Military
TIKOITOGA: Everybody seems to think that or raise a perception that the military wanted to sneak these people out. The military was going to send them on duty to Iraq, because they were members of the Fiji military force. They were always going to come back after six months, the tour of duty is only six months. And because we felt that DPP was not going to make anything soon, and it just so happens that the soldiers who are not implicated or not given any indication that they were going to be charged and the rotation or their time for their rotation came. They were prepared for five weeks and ready to board the flight.
Unfortunately, the DPP found it necessary to issue the summons or the charges on the doorsteps of the aircraft and that timing is perhaps questionable. They have families that they had farewelled them, they had gone to the assembly that now will be embarrassed on those actions and that's the only thing that is questionable. We will wait for the court system and the court proceeded to take its own course and we will let it go. And despite all that's been said, it is now in the hands of the DPP and the courts to take us through that proceeding.
COUTTS: Lieutenant Colonel Tikoitoga, you've been reported in the press as saying that you have criticised the DPP for the manner in which the officers were detained or prevented from leaving for Iraq. I just wonder if you can explain why you have criticised the DPP?
TIKOITOGA: Well we have not criticised the DPP, we only have perhaps questioned the timings of the issue of the summons on the allegations of the earlier incident this year. DPP had decided for a very long time and yet they waited until the men were ready to board the aircraft before they issued the charges and that's the only thing that we questioned. It's not criticising the DPP. We know they have a job to do. We only thought that it would have been better for the DPP to issue the summons or give an indication to the military of possible charges.
COUTTS: Now Lieutenant Colonel, I just wonder is it simply that, that the men while they were in the country, there was no need to issue the summons just yet. But wasn't until they got notice that they were preparing to leave, that it became necessary?
TIKOITOGA: Well, like I said, the DPP had the case file for about six months now.
COUTTS: Can I also clear up a couple of things, because there seems to be a lot of variation on the details of this case being reported in the press. For instance, how many policemen, but how many soldiers were actually detained? The number seems to fluctuate?
TIKOITOGA: Oh seven.
COUTTS: So is it six soldiers and one policeman, or seven soldiers and one policeman?
TIKOITOGA: Eh six and one.
COUTTS: Thank you. And can I just ask you the nature of the charges?
TIKOITOGA: They've been charged for murder.
COUTTS: So the charges have been laid, cause that's also a mixed reporting where they say charges as yet have not been laid?
TIKOITOGA: Oh look, the charges have been laid and each soldier has been served with a charge.
COUTTS: So each of the six soldiers have all been charged with similar charges?
TIKOITOGA: Yes.
COUTTS: And I'm sorry when did you say that case was coming up?
TIKOITOGA: November. It will be in court in November, mid November.
COUTTS: And so, will that mean that the soldiers will now not take their place in Iraq?
TIKOITOGA: Yes, that's correct. They have been replaced and the replacement have been sent to Iraq.
