Bulitavu denies spray painting seditious comments
Opposition Member of Parliament Mosese Bulitavu told the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday that he was not involved in spray painting seditious comments in public places between Suva and Nausori. Mr Bulitavu sat in the witness box yesterday to give evidence during the hearing before Magistrate Deepika Prakash.
He is charged alongside Fiji United Freedom Party leader Jagath Karunaratne.
It is alleged that Bulitavu and Karunaratne wrote on signboards in 2011 between Nausori and Suva with the seditious intention of bringing hatred against the government.
While being questioned yesterday by his lawyer, Barbara Malimali, Bulitavu said he was aware of the allegations against him however he was never involved in it nor did he give instructions for the same to be done. Bulitavu said he met Karunaratne in 2010 when they were introduced by a graphic designer who was designing business cards for Karunaratne. He said he had gone to the graphics designer to discuss ideas about an annual report for the Labasa Tikina Development Corporation Limited, which he was a part of.
Bulitavu said after they were introduced he spoke to Karunaratne about business plans and expansion ideas for Labasa town. Ms Malimali questioned Bulitavu as to how he knew Usaia Koroi, Eroni Takape and Waisale Caganiyasi the three men he was alleged to have been involved with in spray painting the seditious comments.
Bulitavu said they were workers of Walker Films and he got to know them better when they were arrested together for the alleged offence.
He said he spoke with Taniela Ligairi about the restructuring of his company and they also shared issues, which were already public knowledge and were posted on blog sites regarding the political situation in Fiji at the time. Ms Malimali asked Bulitavu to specify which issues they were discussing, to which he said they discussed the idea of enlightening people with his ideology of the Kingdom concept.
He said to this day he still believed in his ideology based on Christian principles, which carried the main message of Jesus Christ, which is the extension of the kingdom on earth with heaven as the kingdom and earth as the colony of heaven.
He said his ideology was based on the Bible and his understanding of the name Fiji was Furthest Israeli Jewish Island.
He said he spoke about his ideology with Mr Ligairi with the intention to create awareness to people, make pamphlets and distribute written material publically and lawfully.
When asked why he discussed his ideology with Mr Ligairi, Bulitavu responded that Mr Ligairi was an Information Technology person and a cameraman with specialisation in computer work and he would assist in the networking of ideas on social media. He said in doing so he had hoped to get people to decide for themselves what type of government they wanted.
He said at the time they were not sure of what ideology they were being governed by as there was an element of fear amongst people as they could not freely voice their views.
He said between 2010 and 2011 he presented his ideology at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Queen Elizabeth Barracks.
Bulitavu told the court that at no time did he involve or invite Usaia, Eroni and Waisale to participate in his discussions about his ideology.
He said he could not recall if he distributed documents to other people during his discussions with Mr Ligairi.
The hearing continues in the Magistrates Court today.