FORMER Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has accused some senior army officers
of being
involved in the May 19 coup.
In a Radio Australia interview, Mr Rabuka said this group of officers, which
he did not name,
ordered the release of arms to George Speight's security advisor Ilisoni Ligairi.
The arms were released from the First Meridian Squadron or the 1MS (formerly
the Counter
Revolutionary Warfare -CRW) unit armoury.
The arms, he said, were used by the 1MS group that entered Parliament on the
morning of May
19.
He has called for an investigation on the matter.
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini said that the news
was a surprise to
them.
"We were not involved in the coup and no order was given for the release
of weapons from the
CRW armoury," Lt Col Tarakinikini said.
He said the military was open to scrutiny.
"We have a duty to the nation and that's what we're doing at the moment,"
he said.
He said such allegations should be substantiated as it was "really damaging
to the army".
"All through the political crisis the soldiers had been working for 24
hours in providing security
for the nation."
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Adi Finau Tabakaucoro has
also rubbished Mr
Rabuka's claim.
"It now seems Mr Rabuka is turning against the army for the excellent job
they're doing," she
said.
"His statement would damage the good reputation of the army and the confidence
of the public in them would be affected."
She questioned why Mr Rabuka was "speaking out this time after all that
the army has done in restoring normality".
"What good will Rabuka's claim bring to the country?"
Adi Tabakaucoro asked.
She said it seemed the claim was targeted at ruining the good reputation of
the army.
The revelation by Mr Rabuka had strengthened claims from certain section of
the community that the army was involved in the coup.
In a Sydney Morning Herald article earlier this month, Lt Col Tarakinikini's
was named as one of those being investigated for the coup.
He has since denied his involvement.
Fiji's Daily Post
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