Today marks 21 years since the attempted mutiny at Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua on November 2nd, 2000, where rebel soldiers who were 2000 Coup Leader, George Speight’s supporters tried to remove the then Army Commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama from office.
A lot has happened since 2000 when we had the coup led by George Speight to try to remove the Mahendra Chaudhry led government followed by the attempted mutiny in November.
In an earlier interview with Legend FM News, Bainimarama who was still the Army Commander said those involved in the 2000 attempted mutiny underestimated the unity in the RFMF and were just fixated on getting rid of him.
Bainimarama said it was clear that people were trying to grab power and to take over the Army Commander’s post.
Bainimarama also revealed to us in that interview that he had a grog session with the CRW soldiers (rebel soldiers) a week before the attempted mutiny.
He said that it was clear on that day that the rebel soldiers came ready to kill the loyal soldiers as they were shooting people at random.
On this day, 21 years ago, fallen loyalist soldiers Private Osea Rokosirinavosa, Private Temo Veilewai and Private Simione Rawaileba were killed during the 2000 mutiny at QEB.
Prime Minister Bainimarama has always said that we should remember the loyalist soldiers during the mutiny and the fallen Police officers and soldier during the 2000 coup.
Constable Filipo Seavula was shot dead by rebels in Nasova in May 2000 while Corporal Raj Kumar and soldier Joela Weleilakeba were killed by rebels in a gully on an isolated road near Adi Cakobau School leading to Navuso village in Sawani.
