Maciu Navakasuasua

Maciu Navakasuasua is a Fijian public figure and former political organizer. An explosives expert, Navakasuasua said that on behalf of the Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party, an extremist party which advocated the "repatriation" to India of Indo-Fijians, two prominent businessmen had tried to hire him to assassinate Nadi International Airport in 1999 while Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry was passing through. Navakasuasua served a three-year prison sentence on Nukulau Island for coup-related offences.

In an interview with the Fiji Sun in September 2005, Navakasuasua claimed that George Speight was just a frontman for the coup. He had been co-opted by the organizers one day before the execution of the coup, on 19 May 2000, and had proceeded to usurp the leadership, Navakasuasua claimed.

Navakasuasua, who told the "Sun" that a religious conversion experience had led him to confess what he knew, alleged that some police officers were not taking the investigation of coup-suspects seriously enough. His own 13-page submission had been largely ignored, he complained.

Josaia Waqabaca, who worked with Navakasuasua in the pre-planning stages of the coup, has supported his version of events.

Among other allegations, Navakasuasua has implicated Cabinet Minister Konisi Yabaki in the coup plot, allegations angrily denied by Yabaki.

Navakasuasua, who now lives in Australia, says that he is willing to return to Fiji to testify. "Ordinary Fijians should stay firm and not allow these elite Fijians to use them so that they can get what they want," he told the "Sun" on 12 January 2006. "I’m man enough and as a true Fijian I served my term in prison. So if I can do it then why can’t these others do likewise."

The "Sun" reported on 13 March 2006 that Navakasuasua had recently met Military Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama and had revealed all that he knew about the individuals involved in the planning and execution of the coup. Bainimarama confirmed the meeting, which he described as "fruitful."

In another "Sun" report on 16 March, Navakasuasua endorsed claims that he had been threatened with death if he ever returned to Fiji. The claims, made by coup accomplice Josaia Waqabaca, had been reported to the police and the army, and by Commodore Bainimarama, who said he was not surprised as Navakasuasua had implicated some powerful people. The truth would not be silenced, he insisted. "The truth is coming up and despite what people do, the truth will always prevail," he said. "I would just tell those people making threats that Maciu Navakasuasua is totally a different man when his life is at stake."

See also

* Allegations about the Fiji coup of 2000