Page 34 - IB May 2021

Fiji Fiji

put the safety of his daughter ahead of Chaudhry and the
other hostages. “By that .... by that time, I had been in touch
with a lot of people I thought would stand by me in the front
row of the scrum .... didn’t know it was going to collapse.
So, I thought the best thing to do is to talk them into their
senses,’’ Ratu Sir Kamisese said. Broadbridge then asked if Adi
Koila’s being held hostage had any effect on his decisions.
“No. When I said that I knew when it was already said,
(emotional) my, my, my, my daughter was going to be the first
to be shot.
We will all going to be dead. She preferred to be in there.’’
Broadbridge: Feel proud of her that she preferred …?
Ratu Sir Kamisese: Very, very proud.
Broadbridge: You were willing to lose a daughter too?
Continued from page 7 Ratu Sir Kamisese: What else can you do?
This palace coup was Bainimarama’s first illegitimate sei-
Ratu Sukuna and his nephew, Ratu Mara, shared a love for zure of power.
the sea and as often as possible, chose to visit Fiji’s many His second would take place six years later and propel him
scattered islands travelling in a Government ship. to ultimate power which he has held since December 2006.
For Ratu Sir Kamisese, that meant the Kapaiwai, Degei or Police investigations into the events were stalled for lack
the pride of the Marine Department fleet, Cagidonu, sails bil- of evidence with those involved being unwilling to implicate
lowing as it cut through the waves for Lakeba or Vanuabalavu. themselves in the oft-forgotten coup within a coup.
Ironical, then, that he would be transported by sea from In an interview with Radio New Zealand, Rabuka spoke of
public life after 50 years of service to the nation. what happened that fateful night on the Kiro in waters off
Ironical, that the navy he introduced in 1975 to protect Beqa Island.
Fiji’s maritime borders and fishing fleets would provide the “We had a very good and frank discussion on the boat. And
instruments of his overthrow and removal from office. everything that transpired was with his agreement,” Rabuka
Bainimarama was a former navy commander before assum- said.
ing command of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. “He in fact said that if once he handed over to the military
The navy provided a floating platform on which a whale’s and the military wanted to restore the country to civilian
tooth (kamunaga) was presented to ask Ratu Sir Kamisese to rule, he should not be approached to be the next president.
stand aside. He felt that the country had rejected him.”
And that same vessel was the means to transport the Father But, in fact, the country had not rejected Ratu Sir Kamis-
r
of the Nation into the political wilderness, albeit in his ances- ese. It was Bainimarama and Savua – supported by Rabuka and
tral home at Tubou, Lakeba. the security forces – who made the decision.
Bainimarama – in a bid to appease George Speight’s rebels “I said, yes, if you think that I avoid bloodshed by standing
who seized Parliament on May 19, 2009 with the support of aside, then I will stand aside. After all you are two people
parts of the military – removed the President. (Bainimarama and Savua) that are, eh, my men… and I re-
At the time, the removal was touted as the most peaceful marked: I will never ever again come back.’’
means to end the hostage situation and ensure there was no Before being rushed unceremoniously from his official resi-
bloodshed. dence, Ratu Sir Kamisese had been waiting for the arrival of
Until then, the President had been of the view that the 80 troops who were on stand by to defend Government House.
army should invade Parliament to free Prime Minister Mahen- The call from the military high command to mount a de-
dra Chaudhry and the hostages, including his daughter, Adi fence and protect the President was never made.
Koila Nailatikau. “The next thing I knew is that (Official Secretary) Joe
Ratu Sir Kamisese told Broadbridge that he had little choice Brown dashed in and said your family has already moved and
when Bainimarama and Savua said the only way out of the you have to move, the boat is ready to take you out,’’ Ratu Sir
national impasse was for the President to stand down. Kamisese said.
“I look at these two: Here’s the Commander with all his “I didn’t have time to ask, even ask a question. We eventu-
army and the police - who is going to be with me if I resist?’’ ally got off at the navy (base). When I got out there my whole
he asked. poor family was all bundled in the Kiro.’’
“They want me out, they want to abrogate the Constitu- As he sat aboard the Kiro under the command of his cousin,
tion, and this is exactly what Speight wants. If they belong to Lieutenant-Commander Bradley Bower, it is possible Ratu Sir
Speight and I don’t belong to them.’’ Kamisese’s thoughts would have returned to the events of the
Speight held the hostages for 56 days. previous fortnight.
Before his removal, the President went on national televi- Shortly after the coup, Rabuka called upon the President to
sion to call for good sense to prevail. But at no stage did he offer help.

34 Islands Business, May 2021