More revelations in the case against Frank Bainimarama of inciting mutiny in the RFMF, including details of a “grog session” at the former prime minister’s home in July 2023 in which Bainimarama allegedly encouraged senior officers present to remove the Commander, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai.
It still doesn’t explain why it has taken almost three years for any action to be taken and whether it is linked to Frank Bainimarama’s renewed role in politics in the lead-up to the coming election. (see previous story).
First, the ABC’s Lice Movono….
And the latest Fiji Village story revealing the names of serving RFMF officers who Bainimarama allegedly encouraged to overthrown the Commander.
FURTHER UPDATE 1500:
it’s all cloak and daggers now. Poor old Frank. And whoever said these itaukeis are such simpletons. They make the Pakistani Army and Intelligence service look like Boys Scouts indeed.
Heaven help us all.
Not if the sky is falling on our heads!😃
It takes 3 years because they need concrete evidence. Words spoken around the grog bowl is a matter of he said she said what. The Police need concrete evidence so they may have gotten something solid to be able to lay charges.
Too bad Bai ensured the military swear allegiance to the Commander when he was there instead of being loyal to the institution. The boys in the camp now are wired accordingly. You reap what you sow.
Unfortunately because of that, it just takes the wrong leader at the top in the army for Fiji to get into a mess again. Thank God we got Ro Jone, a professional who knows what is right got Fiji and the right role of an army.
The chargers are very serious if the so called Viber messages are in fact accurate and correct.
If it is, begs the question , should he have known better. I guess the coup culture never seems to stop in Fiji , is this a clear cut case?
Interesting days ahead and as always innocent till proven guilty.
Count one allegations that Bainimarama sent a Viber message to Manoa Gadai to do coup is nonsense. Remember message to Tudravu USP matter?
Reason? They know viber is encrypted platform and cannot be traced through mobile sim or HD itself. They could have said Bai sent a SMS through Normal Message and that can be recovered through the network carrier say Vodafone.
See how they fooled people and the courts?
The defence of “My phone got hacked” has been used (successfully) by a current minister when she was revealed to be in compromising circumstances. Minister becomes victim and the alleged hacker or phone thief becomes the villain!
Qarase was prosecuted by Bai more than 2 decades later. Chaudhry more than 4 years after he was cleared by a commission of inquiry. Why charge Bai 3 years later is a pompous question. Those so asking can go jump in the river.
Well call me pompous but the question stands. Is it because they got wind of a Bainimarama-inspired party capable of sweeping the Coalition away? You bet.
GD
A small insignificant country doesn’t need such a large military force where the Constitution allows them to enjoy unfettered powers and privileges. The military forces’ are also made up of the predominantly “iTaukeis'” where the power is vested and controlled by just one race to the detriment of other ethnic minorities. This inequality of the military power balance between the have and have nots is controlled by the iTaukeis’ which allows them to enjoy and dominate everything at the expense of the silent minority.
There are also far too many colonels and chiefs in Fiji, and so long as they remain in power expect gutter politics, infighting, corruption and sadly Fiji sinking into an indeterminate future!
All these officers are where they are because of Bainimarama. I have lots of doubt in these cases and its timing. Innocent unless proven guilty.
Cases based on viber messages are very weak and can also be AI generated. Remember Tudravu is still investigating his senior officers for supporting drug related cases which was leaked by Alex Forwood. An angle there is that it was AI generated. It will be interesting to hear what these officers say in their open Court testimonies.
These are very very serious allegations.
Fiji would have gone into another sh:^^”t if overthrow would have happened.
These are dumb arses for profiting by using military. Main player or players are someone else and would come in as interim ministers.
It is like hijacking a plane and someone else will fly for them once it takes off.
People of Fiji must be guessing who that main figure could be or are?
No good Fiji.
Vinaka Ratu Koli.
Keep the arms tight.