Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube says a coup is a coup.
Narube said Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in Parliament last week tried to explain that the 2006 coup was different from the 1987 and 2000 coups.
In a statement, he said there is no difference, coups illegally overthrow a democratically elected government.
“What a load of bananas. The question is does Sayed-Khaiyum seriously think that the people are fools, this kind of statement insults our intelligence,” he said.
“A coup is a coup. There are no differences. Coups illegally overthrow a democratically elected government. They are illegal. They are treasonous.
“Perpetrators of coups should face the consequences of their actions but only the coup leader of the 2000 coups is in prison serving his time.
“The cost of the coups are enormous in loss of lives, damage to properties, and loss of incomes of the people and businesses,” he said.
He said while the man who conducted the 2000 coup is in prison, the other two leaders are thriving under the immunity provisions of the 2013 constitution.
“One is now the Prime Minister, and the other is the Leader of the People’s Alliance Party. Both have blamed others for their actions,” he said.
“A few years ago, I calculated that the cost of each coup was about $3 billion(US$1.5 billion) which excluded the loss of lives. The country can never recover these costs.
“These costs will be carried forever into the future. Our children and grandchildren will continue to carry these burdens.
“Suffering of the people today can be traced back to these coups. Let us stop the nonsense of trying to compare coups which tend to support these treasonous acts,” he said.
He said the people should put these perpetrators on a pedestal, but make them accountable for their terrible actions.
Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum claims opposition whip Ro Filipe Tuisawau was part of the George Speight group.
In his end of the week statement in Parliament, Sayed-Khaiyum said the opposition whip met with him in a private room at the Great Council of Chiefs.
“He had influence in the Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua, he was part of the George Speight group. He was part of their think tank
He knows that. He went to the Great Council of Chiefs meeting with him. Yes, you did, you know that I have got people who can testify to your presence,” he said.
In response, Ro Filipe said he does not have any evidence to prove that he was part of the Speight group.
“He should not mislead the House with the lies if he is saying that provide the evidence and withdraw that statement,” he said.
“He makes false accusations. If he is saying that, then you were part of the bomb-making group. I mean did you make the bomb or not?
“Just tell us, or you are saying that I am part of that group. On the same note, I do not have the evidence, you do not have the evidence so do not bring it up,” he said.
Tuisawau said Sayed-Khaiyum should stop spreading lies to the public.
SOURCE: FIJI LIVE/PACNEWS
