Prime Minister and Military says ....

'We meant no disrespect'

PRIME Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama says the military respects the church and traditional leaders, and meant no disrespect when it took over leadership of the country in 2006.

"Sega ni kena i naki ya me kalawaci na lotu, se na vanua se na turaga ni vanua (The purpose was not to overstep the church, the vanua or chiefs)," Commodore Bainimarama told Narocake villagers at a meeting in Rewa yesterday.

He said the major objective was to rid the nation of dirty politics, including racial politics, to allow for national development and prosperity.

In 2000, Cmdr Bainimarama said there was ignorance by the then government.

He said the military was also aware of how the general public was being used by government leaders at that time.

Cmdr Bainimarama made those comments after he accepted the traditional apology presented by the villagers of Narocake.

It is understood that Narocake is the first village in the Rewa Province to present a traditional apology indicating support for the Government.

A member of the chiefly family of the yavusa Narocake, Tevita Bainiloga said the traditional ceremony to seek forgiveness from the Government was for the village's strong opposition against the military takeover.

Speaking in the iTaukei language, Mr Bainiloga said in 2000, they joined other supporters at Parliament House and then later to Kalabu in Nasinu outside Suva.

"Keimami sa qai kila qo ni keimami a vakayagataki, keimami a sega ni vuli vinaka (We now know that we were used and we were not well educated)," he said.

Mr Bainiloga said in an act of resentment, military soldiers among them were not allowed to have a voice at village meetings.

In response, Cmdr Bainimarama said he felt for soldiers who stayed in villages.

"Au sa lomani ira na sotia era tiko ena veikorokoro. O ira, era na muri lewa ga. Io, ya sa i tovo tu ni bula (I feel for soldiers in our villages. They will only follow orders. That is part of life)," he said.

Cmdr Bainimarama said it is anticipated that those changes would bring about huge developments that was now being seen in the country.

At the village meeting yesterday, villagers raised issues that concerned them hoping for government assistance.

Some of the issues raised included the much-needed reclamation work and road construction, among others.