RABUKA’S JUSTIFICATION OF THE 1987 COUP AN INSULT: A-G

Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Sitiveni Rabuka’s justification of the 1987 Coup is an insult to Fijians of Indian descent who were terrorised and forced to flee the country.

Mr Rabuka in an interview with Fijivillage claimed that the 1987 Coup had prepared people of IndoFijian descent for greener pastures.

He said though he regretted the actions of 87, he was grateful that Fiji played a huge part in preparing those who left Fiji for greener pastures.

The Fiji Sun also approached National Federation Party (NFP) Leader Biman Prasad in Parliament yesterday for his thoughts on the comments made by Mr Rabuka.

However, Mr Prasad replied: “I do not talk to the Fiji Sun. Simple.”

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Mr Rabuka’s justification was a grave insult to those affected by the coup.

“And the fact that you have somebody like the leader of NFP just sitting by and grinning and not saying a word is a further insult to that,” he said.

“Essentially what Rabuka is now saying is that thank God for the 87 Coup because these people would not have gone for greener pastures, that’s what he is saying. It is an enormous insult to them.”

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the truth was that people left Fiji because of the coup, because they were discriminated against and because the entire system was changed - people were violently treated.

“There were rapes that occurred. People were discriminated against. People were beaten up. I was here in the streets of Suva, in particular, Dr Bavadra was released after being held captive.”

He said people queued up at the Suvavou House which was then the Immigration Department office to get a passport and flee the country.

“Leases were canceled, people made homeless, that was a direct result of the 87 Coup. And those people who supported the 87 coup, also supported the 2000 coup where similar things had happened.

“The 2000 coup was linked to the 1987 coup.

The rationale and the motivation were completely different to what happened on December 5, 2006. People need to know and understand that.”

He added that the economic debacle took place after the 1987 Coup, the devaluation of the Fijian dollar, and the massive amount of brain drain.