heads of three diplomatic missions yesterday denied claims that they tried to influence a senior military officer to mutiny against army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
In a joint statement yesterday, the US Embassy and the high commissions of the United Kingdom and Australia said the purpose of the meeting with acting military commander Captain Teleni and Colonel Driti was to discuss the ongoing civil-military crisis and to urge the RFMF to respect the constitutional process.
"The object of the meeting on November 28 was to discuss the ongoing civil-military crisis and tourge the RFMF to respect constitutionalprocesses and to not undertake a coup," they said.
"The diplomats also outlined the types of sanctions and other measures that might be imposed if a coup occurred. There was no attempt to incite mutiny."
Colonel Driti said he was approached by the foreign diplomats to overthrow Commodore Bainimarama.
He said three ambassadors Jennifer Rawson of Australia, Larry Dinger of the United States and Roger Sykes of the United Kingdom visited him days before the December military takeover in an attempt to incite mutiny.
"The Australian, US and UK ambassadors visited me trying to incite mutiny in the camp," he said.
"They came in and tried to get me to overthrow the commander a couple of days before the coup."
But the ambassadors said they met with Captain Teleni and Colonel Driti on instructions from their governments.
"The RFMF subsequently made allegationsabout that meeting, which the US, Australia and the UK refuted on November 29," they said.
Yesterday, Captain Teleni supported comments made by Colonel Driti on the mutiny, saying it was true because he was at the meeting.
"Yes, I was there and I totally agree with Commander Land Force," he said.
"In fact, I was there leading the delegation because the commander was away. What Colonel Driti stated was the truth because I was sitting there.
"They're sending us a message not to support the commander. After the meeting, they asked Driti if they could meet the officers of the RFMF. For what reason? I did not allow that to happen."
Captain Teleni said the request was totally against diplomacy and protocol.
Interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the diplomats were hiding behind the privilege of diplomatic immunity.
"The absence of diplomatic immunity would have certainly led to investigations against them for such an act," he said.
Major Neumi Leweni said it was inappropriate for a civilian diplomat to visit a military camp and seek to speak directly to officers.
He said it was an invasion in itself and could be termed as trying to incite.
Captain Teleni said the three ambassadors had wanted to state the role of the military in society and the Government.
He said the three had asked to speak to other officers but were told they could not because they had asked to speak only to Colonel Driti.
"We told them that we knew exactly where we stood in society and the Government," he said.
"We were just wondering what was their role in all of this."
British High Commission press officer Vineeta Nand said the Mr Sykes had sought a meeting for himself and his Australian and United States colleagues with available senior RFMF leadership.
She said Colonel Driti's office gave assent to the meeting which took place with Captain Teleni, Colonel Driti and the three diplomats.
"The diplomats raised concerns about the civil-military crisis in Fiji as instructed by their governments," she said in a statement.
She said the subject of foreign military intervention was not raised in the meeting.
