SODELPA issue

Jone Dakuvula,

suva

I refer to the analysis article by Nemani Delaibatiki about SODELPA and the internal differences within the Party (Fiji Sun, 27/12/2016). Mr Delaibatiki quotes Jese Sikivou with references to the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) “……. Frank has the army all sown up lock stock and barrel and the guys serving now are too young to remember Rabuka’s time. “I reckon SODELPA will split between those loyal to the Marama Bale and Gaunavinaka faction.” This statement from social media presumes that the RFMF is a political organisation with political or personal loyalty to the current Prime Minister.

This is a simplistic assumption and insults the intelligence and professionalism of the RFMF. The future of RFMF as an institution or, the careers of the individuals within it, does not depend on whether Mr Bainimarama remains Prime Minister after the next General Elections or not. No one knows how soldiers voted in the last general elections and I guess it will be the same in the next one.

Soldiers are just like ordinary citizens with their own political and other beliefs and how they vote as individuals is their own business. Two things to be reminded about Rabuka: (1) That when his SVT Party was defeated in the General Election 1999, he resigned the leadership of the SVT and his seat in Parliament and became just an ordinary citizen.

(2) In 2006 at about the time of the General Election, Mr Rabuka appeared before the Magistrates Court on charges of conspiring to mutiny, related to the CRW mutiny at the FMF in 2000 that had threatened Mr Bainimarama’s life. He was found by the Court not guilty. He told New Zealand journalist Michael Field: “I am relieved. I know from day one I was innocent!! See Michael Field’s book “Swimming with the Sharks.” Chapter on Fourth Fiji Coup pages 214 to 215. At the conclusion of that Court, Bainimarama was just staging his coup against the SDL Government. Rabuka had apologised many times publicly including a Matanigasau to the Tokatoka of the late Dr Timoci Bavadra for his 1987 Coups. He has had his day in Court. And critics like Mr Sikivou and Peter Waqavonovono continue to condemn him and seem to look forward to their prediction of breakup of SODELPA.