PAC: Armed soldiers carry out raids in Fiji

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2006
PAC: Armed soldiers carry out raids in Fiji

SUVA, Dec 12 AAP - Armed Fijian soldiers have reportedly conducted a series of raids
in the capital, Suva, and the western city of Lautoka.

The Fiji Times website reports the soldiers raided the government's Information Technology
Centre (ITC) in Suva this morning and took its director Sailasa Taganesia to the army's
Strategic Headquarters for questioning.

Taganesia told the Fiji Times he was questioned for two hours by soldiers and was told
by army chief of staff Captain Esala Teleni he had been sacked.

Taganesia believes he was sacked because he followed orders by former finance ministry
chief executive Paula Uluinaceva to close the centre.

Uluinaceva was sacked yesterday by the military regime of army commander Frank Bainimarama,
which is systematically sacking government officials and public servants after seizing
power from prime minister Laisenia Qarase last week.

The Fiji Times also reports armed soldiers raided a house in Lautoka that was reportedly
bought recently by Fiji-born millionaire Ballu Khan.

Khan's company is in a joint venture with the Native Lands Trust Board that formed
Pacific Connex, one of two companies bidding for a licence to operate a mobile telephone
network in Fiji to battle Vodafone's monopoly.

Khan is currently overseas.

Armed soldiers also raided the Pacific Connex Suva office last week and removed some documents.

AAP pmu/br

KEYWORD: FIJI RAIDS

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