Social Democratic Liberal Party provisional candidate Ifereimi Vasu says he was not involved in the removal of former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase during the 2006 coup led by then military commander Voreqe Bainimarama.
“I am a clean man,” the former Republic of Fiji Military Forces Lieutenant Colonel and Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner said.
He said this in response to recent comment by former SODELPA MP and Opposition Whip Ro Filipe Tuisawau, who said it was “total hypocrisy” and a “betrayal” that the party allowed three former military officers who were directly involved in the removal of Mr Qarase to join their party.
“I was never involved in any coup that took place in this country because I was away overseas when it happened,” he said in an interview at his farm in Lokia, Nausori.
“During the first coup in 1987, I was still studying at the then Fiji Institute of Technology (FIT).
“I was on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon during the 2000 coup, and in 2006 I was in China.
“I was even approached in 1987, 2000 and 2006, but I declined and I could say that I am a clean man.”
Mr Vasu said he was “not bothered” by Ro Filipe’s comments because he had the right to say whatever he wanted.
“But the reality is, I was never at any point directly involved in any coup or the removal of the late Mr Qarase.”
