By Sarah E. Treptow

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji — Police Commissioner Esala Teleni has said police would not investigate the treason complaint filed against interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and his government by the ousted prime minister, Laisenia Qarase and his Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party.  Mr. Qarase claims “the regime took an unlawful oath, aided and abetted and became benefactors of treason.”

Mr. Teleni made his decision not to investigate despite the police force’s no-drop policy on complaints.  Police Spokeswoman Ema Mua has said, “In this case, the no-drop policy is subjected to elements that are before the court and police will respect the judicial process.”

Two political parties have called on Mr. Teleni to step down from his post in order to allow investigations to proceed.  Peceli Kinivuwai, national director of the SDL party and opposition leader Mick Beddoes claims stepping down would be the honourable thing to do in the interest of police credibility, transparency and good governance.

Fiji’s Interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says the move is a stunt.  Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum believes, “The complaint is a gimmick, it’s a stunt because Qarase and his lawyers are fully aware that the matters are before the courts; the matters before the courts involve the legality or otherwise of the interim government, which also involves the promulgations made by his excellency our President and go directly to the events prior to, on and after 5 December [2006].”

SDL laywer Niko Nawaikula reports that the police were being very cooperative and took down his clients’ complaint in great detail when it was filed with them.

The Fiji police is run by Fiji’s interim government and the police itself has come under scrutiny since the December 2006 coup.  Specifically, many international observers suspect that the police force is being used to seek the political ends of the interim government.

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times Online — Rejected — 09 September 2008

Fiji Times Online — Police hold back on treason claim probe — 08 September 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji interim regime says a complaint of treason from the country’s ousted leader is a stunt — 08 September 2008