Dissidents ‘will be crushed’

SUVA – Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has promised to jail dissidents for “many years” – including those based overseas – that he claimed were plotting to overthrow his government amid reports of attempts in the Pacific nation to set up a breakaway state.

More than 50 people have been arrested and charged with sedition in recent months, with Bainimarama vowing to “crush” any attempt at insurrection, while highlighting the alleged role of Fijian nationals living overseas.

In a speech on Saturday, Bainimarama said those allegedly plotting against the country included “certain high-profile figures in Australia”.

Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup, did not name any individuals specifically but said encouraging sedition was “a serious offence”.

“The hand of the law is very long. And rest assured that the authorities in Fiji will not rest until you are brought to justice,” he said.

“They will not succeed. And if you are foolish enough to join them, you will be severely punished and could spend many years in jail.”

His comments came after immigration director Nemani Vuniwaqa confirmed to the Fiji Sun that Bainimarama had banned Australian-based Fiji-born Mereoni Kirwin from entering the country because she was “in attempts to form a so-called Christian state in the provinces of Ra and Nadroga”.

Separately, authorities had also claimed a former British army officer, whom they say is also a Fijian national, had been secretly running military-style training camps in several villages as part of a plot to form a breakaway Christian state on the main island of Viti Levu.

The veteran has not been identified.

Earlier this month, defence lawyer Aman Ravindra-Singh, who is representing some of the people charged with sedition, told media that the authorities were yet to show evidence of their claims.

But Bainimarama said he would not tolerate any challenge to his government.

“The current government was chosen by the Fijian people as a whole at the election almost a year ago. It is the only lawful government,” he said.

“The people behind these insurrections don’t believe in democracy, in listening to the will of the people. They want to impose their will on everyone else.

“They are enemies of the state and enemies of the Fijian people – and we are going to track them down and bring them to justice.”

In an earlier statement Bainimarama said: “The current security operation led by the police with the assistance of the RFMF is to protect our new democracy from certain forces who do not accept the will of the Fijian people as expressed at the election.

“They must not be allowed to succeed in their attempts to challenge our democracy and enforce their own will on the nation.

“I also want it known that if we find any politician, businessman or any other person aiding and abetting anyone that wants to create instability, they will also face the full brunt of the law.”