Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says people should know that the Leader of the Opposition, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is pushing for pardons for those who were responsible for the deadly events of 2000 because Ratu Naiqama and others are from the same gang.
Bainimarama also labelled the matanigasau (iTaukei forgiveness ceremony) presented by Ratu Naiqama and others as a farce.
Ratu Naiqama has called on the President Jioji Konrote to appoint a Mercy Commission who should then release people like Naitasiri high chief, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata who has been convicted of one count of inciting mutiny in 2000 and 2000 coup leader, George Speight who is serving time for treason.
While speaking in parliament, Bainimarama says people should remember all the deadly events resulted in the tragic death of loyal soldiers and police officers.
He also stresses that he does not endorse anything less than equal treatment under the law regardless of status, titles and political connections for those responsible.
Bainimarama says he did not attend the matanigasau after the 2000 events and also requested the late former President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo not to attend the ceremony as it was fake.
A matanigasau is a iTaukei traditional ceremony where people seek forgiveness from those that they have wronged. In this ceremony, former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry and his ousted government members, Voreqe Bainimarama and affected soldiers did not attend the presentation.
Leader of Opposition, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu says he is urging the President, Jioji Konrote and the government to also consider the release of prisoners like 2000 coup leader, George Speight and Naitasiri High Chief, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata.
When questioned by Fijivillage, Ratu Naiqama said there were more than 3,000 people that were charged and incarcerated in relation to the events of 2000, and all including George Speight should be released.
While speaking in parliament, Ratu Naiqama said this is not to create another coup but to take a step forward.
Ratu Naiqama adds he was also sent to prison for the events of 2000.
In April 2005, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu who was a Minister in the former Qarase led government, and former government senator, Ratu Josefa Dimuri, were released from Labasa Prison to serve their sentences extramurally.
Their release came just 11 days after they were sent to prison for eight months for coup related offences.
Ratu Naiqama was found guilty of unlawful assembly. Magistrate Sunil Kumar had said at the time that in the 2000 instability, the people of the north expected the chiefs to play a leading role to take them out of the situation. Instead, the chiefs like Ratu Naiqama did otherwise.
Ratu Naiqama said in parliament yesterday that they carried out the forgiveness ceremonies twice.
Ratu Naiqama says they came with the chiefs from the North, making arrangements with Voreqe Bainimarama when he was the Army Commander, however Bainimarama was busy then.
He says he also visited Mahendra Chaudhry’s office at the time to ask for forgiveness however Chaudhry said he needed time to consult with the iTaukei members of his government on how they will approach the request to take part in the ceremony.
Ratu Naiqama says they ended up with the late former Vice President, Ratu Jope Seniloli and later on a big ceremony was held where they offered their sincere apologies to the nation.
He says all he is asking if the late former President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo was able to accept the request for forgiveness, he also urges the government of the day to consider the same.
When asked by Fijivillage outside parliament on not presenting a matanigasau in a forgiveness ceremony to Chaudhry and his government members and Bainimarama, Ratu Naiqama says he is a Fijian and he believes the forgiveness ceremony has been done.
Ratu Naiqama says the President has the powers to grant free or pardon a person convicted of an offence and remitting all or part of a punishment.
Ratu Inoke Takiveikata was convicted and sentenced in 2011 for inciting mutiny in 2000 at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks.
Takiveikata was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole term of 8 years.
Ratu Naiqama asked government to also re-look at the role of the Mercy Commission in trying to clear those who have served their time in prison.
He says these people must be given another chance to be integrated into our community and participate in the nation as whole.
Ratu Naiqama says the parliamentarians have the audacity to come into parliament and preach about yellow ribbon and hopes the government could take account of all that have been affected where some have served over ten years in jail while others have served beyond 20 years.
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