Stop Misleading Indigenous Fijians

Stop misleading the indigenous Fijians. That's the message from Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama to Viti Landowners and Resource Owners Association President, Ratu Osea Gavidi.

Commodore Bainimarama said Ratu Osea is misleading the people when he said that the Bose Ni Turaga back in 2000 ensured that the country returns to democratic rule after they nominated Ratu Josefa Iloilo and Ratu Jope Seniloli to take up the President and Vice President's posts.

Bainimarama said the Cuvu chief has forgotten that Ratu Osea and three others pressured President Ratu Josefa Iloilo to appoint Bau chief, Adi Samanunu Cakobau to be the Prime Minister during the 2000 crisis. He stresses that the RFMF did not want Adi Samanunu appointed as it would have meant that George Speight would have been in power.

The Interim PM said Ratu Osea and three others were forcing the President to ensure that he does not appoint Laisenia Qarase as Prime Minister.

Bainimarama said Qarase was the military's choice for PM but since then they have regretted that decision as Qarase took the country in the wrong direction.

The Interim Prime Minister stresses that people like Ratu Osea just want to be in power and mislead the ordinary indigenous Fijians.

He said this is obvious when he was telling the indigenous Fijians that he would bring in 6 billion dollars for them.

Commodore Bainimarama said the indigenous Fijian landowners who are still waiting for the 6 billion dollars do not know that they had to give up their land to the financiers if the deal had to go ahead. He said this is the information which the military has received about the deal.

The Interim PM said Ratu Osea should come out and tell the people of Fiji where is the 6 billion dollars which he was harping about a few years ago.

Bainimarama stresses that the Bose Ni Turaga which Ratu Osea is organizing will not be allowed to go ahead by the interim government, the military and the police.

He said that even if Ratu Osea Gavidi calls out from the forest or calls out from the sea, the Bose Ni Turaga will not be allowed to sit as this meeting could result in instability in the country.