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Fiji military apologises for role in coups

WELLINGTON: Fiji's military, for the first time, apologised for the coups in 1987 and 2000, local media reported on Friday.

The Daily Post said the apology was part of the military's submission opposing the Qoliqoli and Indigenous Land Claims Tribunal Bills made to the parliamentary committee hearing public views on them.

Captain Seremaia Tuiteci said the military ``had learnt from the dark chapters of 1987 and 2000 and was apologising for allowing that to happen.''

Capt. Tuiteci said the military had been used in 1987 and was not going to be used again as the coups were meant for elite Fijians at the expense of those at the grassroots.

Fiji gained in 1970 its independence as a member of the British Commonwealth and got its first Indian-led government in 1987 when Timoci Bavadra won the general election. — Xinhua

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