Relationships between
Fiji
Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...
and
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
became strained in November 2005 in the wake of reports that 9 Fijian soldiers believed to be
mercenaries
A mercenary, sometimes also known as a soldier of fortune or hired gun, is a private individual, particularly a soldier, that joins a military conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any o ...
had reportedly entered the disputed territory of the Kingdom of
Me'ekamui on
Bougainville in Papua New Guinea illegally and were arming and training a private
militia
A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
on the island of
Bougainville.
The Announcement
Bougainville secessionist
King David Peii II (
Noah Musingku
Noah Musingku, under the name "King David Peii II", claims to be head of the twin "kingdoms" of Papaala and Me’ekamui on Bougainville Island in the North Solomon Islands, which are not considered to be real kingdoms by any government authori ...
) of Meekamui controls more than half of the island of Bougainville, following the civil war. The PNG government has not recognized Bougainville sovereignty, but has granted autonomy to Bougainville. Acting as Head of State of the
Twin Kingdoms of Me'ekamui and Papala
Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two e ...
, Musingku announced in October 2005 that he was hiring a security force from
Fiji
Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...
to train his guards and other governmental personnel, as well as establish security and satellite and other telecommunications for his bank in Tonu.
Papala Chronicles Issue 18
Papala Chronicles Issue 19 This decision was made with the full support of the 14 members of the Siwai Council of Chiefs.
:''“We hereby support the agreement between the two authorities being the Royal Twin Kingdom governments and the Government of Fiji for the provision of the Fiji Security Forces and special bodyguards for our Royal Twin Kingdoms”'', the chiefs said.
King David Peii/Musingku said that this Fijian security force had been hand selected “mostly
born again (Christianity), Born-Again Christians", and that:
:''Among Security and bodyguards to be deployed by the Fiji Security forces to Bougainville are men and officers with strong Christian character who have behind them many years of peace keeping experiences and skills, earned from similar assignments overseas.''
By the beginning of November, the arrival of the first contingent of eight Fijian soldiers was announced, along with the report of a public welcoming ceremony on 5 October 2005. The announcement included a photo of "the Fijians with the King after church services".
:In the welcoming ceremony, a director of Training in the security company
onin High Risk Company Limited Mr Aliki Moroca told the King and the gathering that their company vision is to provide security excellence and includes different units of medical, logistics, fire, military police and experts in several other fields....
:''“Our company members are Territorial Force soldiers having served in overseas observer and peacekeeping missions and active duties in Labanon, Sinai, Bosnia, Kosovo, Namibia, East Timor, Zimbabwe, Rhodesia, Bougainville and Iraq”'', he said.
:''“Our company has many units including infantry, engineering, medical, signal units, fire department, logistics, aviation, naval, transport, maintenance, plus our special force unit”'', he said. The Training program coordinator, Maloni Namoli, said their training program will include both the Kings palace guards, the Meekamui National Police and the Meekamui National Defense Force.
:''“We will train the palace guards the skills of escort and body guard services to the King both internally and on international and state visits around the world.''”
The first wave
The PNG government and press discovered the presence of the military mission a month after the announcement of their hire, on 15 November. They claimed that the men, formerly connected with the now disbanded
Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit
The Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit or CRWU was the common name for the First Meridian Squadron, the unit's formal name, which had been disbanded in 2000. It was the only special forces group of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, and was the ...
, had been hired as "bodyguards" by
Noah Musingku
Noah Musingku, under the name "King David Peii II", claims to be head of the twin "kingdoms" of Papaala and Me’ekamui on Bougainville Island in the North Solomon Islands, which are not considered to be real kingdoms by any government authori ...
, a follower of the late Bougainville separatist leader
Francis Ona
Francis Ona (c. 1953 – 24 July 2005) was a Bougainville secessionist leader who led an uprising against the Government of Papua New Guinea as part of the Bougainville Civil War. He and his followers were concerned about the environmental and ...
. Musingku has in the past been involved with organizing
U-Vistract
U-Vistract is a pyramid scheme created by Noah Musingku in Papua New Guinea (PNG) around 1999 as a means of providing a sovereign wealth source for an independent Bougainville. Eventually, it was established, and expelled, from Australia, PNG ...
, generally considered a failed
pyramid scheme
A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits members via a promise of payments or services for enrolling others into the scheme, rather than supplying investments or sale of products. As recruiting multiplies, recruiting becomes quickly im ...
. The men were reportedly giving arms training to students from schools around
Tonu, in the Siwai district.
Papua New Guinea's Inter-Governmental Relations Minister,
Sir Peter Barter, expressed serious concern about the men's activities, saying they had been lured to Bougainville by false promises.
On 18 November, the eight men confirmed that they were in Bougainville to train security officers, but denied being mercenaries.
The Fijian government formally apologised on 30 November for the incident.
Fijian government response
Fiji's
High Commissioner to
Port Moresby
(; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...
,
Ratu Inoke Kubuabola
''Ratu'' Inoke Kubuabola (born 1948) is a Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister. He is the former leader of the opposition and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Kubuabola worked as an assistant manager for the New Zealand Insurance Company in A ...
, said that the men had been identified. He condemned their actions, saying, ''"It has brought disrepute to all the good work done in the past by our Fijian missionaries and soldiers who served in peace building and monitoring process on Bougainville."'' He had had to assure
Joseph Kabui
Joseph Canisius Kabui (1954 – 7 June 2008) was a secessionist leader and the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the leader of the Bougainville People's C ...
, the President of Bougainville's autonomous regional government, that the soldiers were no longer members of the
Fiji Military Forces and that the Fijian government did not support them.
Prime Minister Qarase told Parliament on 17 November that if the 8 former CRW soldiers were found guilty, they would get no help from the Fijian government. ''"Basically if you are in a foreign country and you break the law then you have to account for your action,"'' he said.
Fiji's
Home Affairs Minister,
Josefa Vosanibola
Josefa Bole Vosanibola is a Fijian politician who served as Minister for Home Affairs from 16 December 2004, when he was appointed by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to succeed Joketani Cokanasiga, to 5 December 2006, when his government was depose ...
, issued a statement on 20 November calling on all Fijian citizens living or working abroad to respect the laws of their host countries, and to refrain from involvement in any activities that could tarnish Fiji's reputation.
The Fijian government has refused to label the men "mercenaries", however. Foreign Affairs spokesman
Isikeli Mataitoga
Isikeli Uluinairai Mataitoga is Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal of Fiji. He was appointed as a Justice of Appeal on 27 March 2023.
He was a Fijian diplomat and former Ambassador of Fiji to Japan, he was concurrently the non-reside ...
said that the government would not brand them as such until they had ascertained exactly why they were on Bougainville.
Missionary visas
The Fiji Live new service reported the same day that the 8 former soldiers were recruits of the
Ronin Security firm, whose founder
Ilisoni Ligairi
Ilisoni Vonomateiratu is a professional rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangul ...
was implicated in the
Fiji coup of 2000. According to Fiji Live, the recruits travelled to Bougainville ostensibly as
missionaries
A missionary is a member of a religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Mi ...
, and it was reported on 18 November that three of the men belonged to the
Christian Mission Fellowship, a Fijian church group, and that at least two of them had entered Papua New Guinea on missionary visas.
Pastor
A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...
Manasa Kolivuso
Manasa () is a Hindu goddess of snakes. She is worshipped mainly in Bihar, Bengal, Jharkhand, Lower Assam and other parts of northeastern India and in Uttarakhand, chiefly for the prevention and cure of snakebite, and also for fertility and pr ...
of the
Every Home for Christ Church denied on 20 November that he or the church had authorized the two men connected with the church to travel to Papua New Guinea as missionaries.
Also on 20 November, it was revealed that
Suliasi Turagabeci, the official secretary to Fiji's
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
, had supported the visa applications of two of the men,
Freddy Rokondi and
Sam Baroi. He had supplied them with references testifying that he had known them for more than a decade, and asserting that they were devout Christians and trustworthy men. The men were subsequently granted missionary visas.
National security threat
Military spokesman
Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
Neumi Leweni
Neumi Leweni (born 1957) is a Fijian Army officer and diplomat, who holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. He hails from the Lau Islands. He joined the Military in 1974 and by 2006 was one of two official spokesmen for the Military, the other bein ...
said that the actions of the mercenaries constituted a threat to national security in Fiji. He blamed government policy, including its promotion of the controversial
Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill
The Reconciliation and Unity Commission was a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on 4 May 2005 was passed. The legislation proposed to empower th ...
, for fostering a ''"do whatever you want syndrome"'' of which this incident was a symptom.
On the other hand, former
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
Sitiveni Rabuka
Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, (; born 13 September 1948) is a Fijian politician who has served as Prime Minister of Fiji since 24 December 2022. He was the instigator of two military coups in 1987. He was democratically elected as Prime Ministe ...
, who founded the CRW unit, defended the mercenaries, saying they had nothing else to do. He said that the disbanding of the unit following the coup and
mutinies
Mutiny is a revolt among a group of people (typically of a military, of a crew or of a crew of pirates) to oppose, change, or overthrow an organization to which they were previously loyal. The term is commonly used for a rebellion among member ...
of 2000, coupled with the tarnishing of the reputations of the soldiers involved, had left the men unemployed and unemployable. He called on the government to ensure that others in similar circumstances do not likewise end up in illegal activities.
Fears of danger
Meanwhile, Kubuabola said that the 8 men would be in great danger if the charges against them were substantiated. He appealed to Fijians living in Papua New Guinea to help them return to Fiji.
Foreign Minister
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
Kaliopate Tavola
Kaliopate Tavola (born 1946) is a Fijian Agricultural economist, diplomat, and politician, who was his country's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2006. He was also Minister for External Trade and Minister for Sugar.
Diplomatic caree ...
, for his part, had ascertained that 2 of them were willing to do so, but was unsure of the others' intentions.
Meanwhile, a separatist group on Bougainville threatened to "destroy or kidnap" the men if they failed to leave the island within seven days.
Rakai negotiates
It was announced on 21 November that the Fijian
High Commission in Port Moresby would send
Emosi Rakai, the First Secretary at the High Commission, to
Buka to assist the Bougainville government to repatriate the Fijians. Efforts to communicate with the Fijians themselves were proving futile, said Foreign Minister Tavola. Telephone calls were invariably answered by a third person saying that the men were not available, he said. High Commissioner Kubuabola said that the diplomat being sent knew three of the mercenaries well, and expressed hope that they would cooperate. Bougainville's autonomous government, he said, was anxious to get the men off the island before the central government intervened.
When Rakai arrived in Buka however, his efforts to contact the men were reportedly unsuccessful. ''"They were given orders not to speak to me,"'' Rakai said. Rakai's statement conflicted with two earlier reports, one saying that he had in fact made contact but had failed to persuade them to board a flight to Port Moresby and then return to Fiji. High Commissioner Kubuabola later said that the meeting had not taken place, and cited bad weather as a likely explanation.
Kubuabola announced on 29 November, however, that Rakai had succeeded in contacting the men over the weekend, and had persuaded two of them,
Fereti Rokodi and
Semi Baroi - believed to be leaders among the eight - to fly to Port Moresby to be interviewed. Rakai meanwhile expressed fears that the remaining six were being held against their will. Musingku would not let them leave for "security reasons," he told Papua New Guinea's
Post-Courier newspaper.
Rokodi and Baroi were to be questioned by Papua New Guinea immigration officials on possible breaches of their visa conditions. Papua New Guinea's Acting
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
Sir Moi Avei had earlier told
Pacific Beat on
Radio Oz the previous day that the men were a threat to national security.
After arriving in Port Moresby, Rokodi told Fijian and Papuan officials interviewing him that he and his colleagues were missionaries, not mercenaries, and were on Bougainville to preach the Christian gospel. They considered the opportunity the fulfillment of a vision they had had in 1999, he said. They were also there, he claimed, to check on "investments" that Fijians had made, and to get the promised returns from Musingku.
Expulsion order
Meanwhile, Kubuabola said that all eight Fijians wanted to return home. On 5 December, they were ordered by the government of Papua New Guinea to leave the country within 15 days. Then on 9 December, with Rakai still attempting to persuade the men to leave, the government of Papua New Guinea announced its intention to charge the men for breaching the conditions of their visas, and gave them till 20 December to leave. On 12 December, having returned to Tonu with Rokodi in an effort to persuade the remaining six to leave, reported that he had failed. All six had signed statements for the Fijian High Commission that of their own accord, they refused to leave Bougainville and were applying for work permits.
On 19 December, Bougainville's Vice-President
Joseph Watawi
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...
said that the deadline for the men to leave had been extended till 28 December. If they refused to leave, they would be arrested, he declared. Meanwhile, reports indicated that
Isaia Baro, one of the six remaining in Tonu, had left the area and had flown to Port Moresby, for interrogation by immigration authorities.
On 20 December, the Papua New Guinea government threatened the men with
treason
Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...
charges if they failed to leave the country. The next day, Papua New Guinea's ''National'' newspaper reported that authorities were monitoring the waters in the region of the
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...
, lest the men attempt to leave the country illegally by boat. They next day, it was announced that the three men who had left Tonu would be charged and deported for immigration offences; the remaining five would similarly be charged and deported when apprehended, the
Fiji Times
''The Fiji Times'' is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating.
''The Fiji Times'' is owned by Motibhai G ...
reported.
Papua New Guinea's
Post Courier newspaper reported on 23 December that the five men remaining in Tonu had hopes of receiving the
F$1 million each that Musingku had promised them, and would not leave until paid. This refusal was repeated on 27 December. ''"Because there is strong hope that Musingku will pay out, the Fijians do not want to leave Tonu without the money promised,"'' the Post Courier quoted one informant.
Musingku, meanwhile, is reported to have tightened security at his Tonu hideout following rumors of troop deployments in the vicinity.
On 23 December, the
Fiji Village
''Fiji Village'' (stylised ''Fijivillage'') is an online news website in Fiji which is fully owned and operated by Communications Fiji Limited. It covers local, political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items.
''Fiji Village'' is ...
news service quoted Fiji's acting
Foreign Minister
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
,
Pita Nacuva
Pita Kewa Nacuva is a Fijian politician, who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from June to December 2006, when a military coup deposed the government and resulted in the dissolution of Parliament. Previously, he had served in the ...
, as saying that the men's activities could make it much more difficult for Fijian nationals to obtain entry permits in Papua New Guinea in future.
The deadline expired on 28 December, with the five men still in Tonu. There was no immediate word as to whether, or when, police would carry out their threat to use force to remove the men.
Meanwhile,
Fiji Television
Fiji Television Limited is one of Fiji's main television network. It was founded on 15 June 1994 as the first permanent commercial television broadcasting network in the country, although television had previously been introduced temporarily ...
revealed on 29 December that the three men who had left Tonu were under house arrest in
Port Moresby
(; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...
. It was subsequently reported by
Fiji Village
''Fiji Village'' (stylised ''Fijivillage'') is an online news website in Fiji which is fully owned and operated by Communications Fiji Limited. It covers local, political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items.
''Fiji Village'' is ...
on 3 January 2006 that the government of Papua New Guinea had decided to deport them without laying any charges.
Bougainville President
Joseph Kabui
Joseph Canisius Kabui (1954 – 7 June 2008) was a secessionist leader and the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the leader of the Bougainville People's C ...
announced on 16 January that armed men would be sent into Tonu to "smoke out" the five Fijians remaining, who were said to be training 30 militiamen.
Detained in Tonu; one escapes from Port Moresby
The Fiji High Commission in Port Moresby revealed on 6 January 2006 that Musingku was holding the five remaining men and refusing to release them. Diplomat
Emosi Rakai quoted Musingku as telling him the men had signed a two-year employment contract, to which he was holding them.
Isikeli Mataitoga
Isikeli Uluinairai Mataitoga is Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal of Fiji. He was appointed as a Justice of Appeal on 27 March 2023.
He was a Fijian diplomat and former Ambassador of Fiji to Japan, he was concurrently the non-reside ...
, the Chief Executive Officer of Fiji's Foreign Affairs Ministry, revealed on 8 January that
Fereti Rokodi, one of the three being held in Port Moresby, had escaped to
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, on the 5th. He would be arrested on his return to Fiji, Mataitoga said.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...
immigration officials revealed to the
Solomon Star
The ''Solomon Star'' is a Solomon Islands daily, English language newspaper on 10 January 2006 that telecommunications specialist
Isaia Seruvatu Baroi, one of the men ordered out of Papua New Guinea, had arrived in
Honiara
Honiara () is the capital and largest city of Solomon Islands, situated on the northwestern coast of Guadalcanal. , it had a population of 92,344 people. The city is served by Honiara International Airport and the seaport of Point Cruz, and lie ...
en route to Fiji. Another who had been held in Port Moresby had already returned to Fiji via Australia, while a third was waiting for his airfare, Baroi told the
Fiji Times
''The Fiji Times'' is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating.
''The Fiji Times'' is owned by Motibhai G ...
the next day. On 12 January 2006, however, the
Fiji Live
''Fijilive'' is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder.
''Fijilive'' is one of Fiji's largest websites. The site rose to ...
news service reported that
Semi Baroi, too, had returned to Fiji the previous weekend.
The
Fiji Village
''Fiji Village'' (stylised ''Fijivillage'') is an online news website in Fiji which is fully owned and operated by Communications Fiji Limited. It covers local, political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items.
''Fiji Village'' is ...
news service reported on 27 January that the five Fijian nationals remaining in Bougainville had reiterated their earlier decision not to leave until paid for the work undertaken.
Baroi's story
On his return to Fiji,
Isaia Baroi, a native of
Lomanikoro in
Rewa Province
Rewa is a province of Fiji. With a land area of 272 square kilometers (the smallest of Fiji's provinces), it includes the capital city of Suva (but not most of Suva's suburbs) and is in two parts — one including part of Suva's hinterland to the ...
and a director of
Transcom Fiji Limited, told the
Fiji Times
''The Fiji Times'' is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating.
''The Fiji Times'' is owned by Motibhai G ...
that he had gone to Bougainville on a telecommunications business trip, hoping to secure a deal with a customer he had never met. His seven colleagues had gone as security staff, he said, and found the local situation to be very different from what they had been led to expect. Revelations that he and his colleagues had been accused of being mercenaries had come as a complete surprise to him, he said.
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand ( mi, Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa), commonly known as Radio NZ or simply RNZ, is a New Zealand public-service radio broadcaster and Crown entity that was established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news and c ...
, meanwhile, reported that the men had been hired to secure a bank in Tonu.
Military to flush rebels out
PNG Military Commander
Peter Ilau told ''
The National'' newspaper on 14 March that the Military would move into Bougainville to oust Musingku and his Fijian backers if asked to do so by the Bougainville autonomous government.
The second wave
Noah Musingku, who is also known as "HM King David Peii II" Head of State of "
Kingdom of Papala", spoke publicly on 22 November 2005. His official newspaper, the
Papala Chronicles, reported that ten more Fijian soldiers were expected to arrive in Bougainville soon, with more than 35 expected by the end of November 2005. The Papala Chronicles identified the Ronin Company as a source of the men, along with members of a private telecommunications company, who would be employed to install all telecommunication systems in
Tonu, the headquarters of the "kingdom" of Papala, and eventually throughout Bougainville. On 23 November, th
Fiji Livenews service reported that 30 men, most or all of whom were believed to be unemployed, had begun seeking a medical clearance to travel to Bougainville, and that a further 300 were expected later on, having been lured with promises of
F$1 million each.
Meanwhile, the central government of Papua New Guinea has told the autonomous government of Bougainville that if it fails to step in to evict the eight Fijians, central authorities will intervene.
Fiji's
Employment Minister Kenneth Zinck said on 23 November that he welcomed the recruitment of former Fijian soldiers for work in Bougainville, provided that it was for a legitimate undertaking. The government would be concerned if they were being hired as mercenaries, and wanted to see their employment contracts prior to their departure, he said.
National Alliance Party leader
Ratu Epeli Ganilau, a former Commander of the
Fijian Military, concurred, but in an interview with
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
's
ABC Television ABC Television most commonly refers to:
*ABC Television Network of the American Broadcasting Company, United States, or
*ABC Television (Australian TV network), a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia
ABC Television or ABC ...
's
Asia Pacific Focus
ABC News, or ABC News and Current Affairs, is a public news service produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Broadcasting within Australia and the rest of the world, the service covers both local and world affairs.
The division of ...
programme on 27 November that in the absence of proof, it was wrong to assume that the men were up to no good. He expressed concern that the men may have been duped by the promise of a million dollars' cash each, and said he hoped that "cool heads" would prevail in the event of the promise coming to nothing.
Fiji's
Military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
Commander
Commodore
Commodore may refer to:
Ranks
* Commodore (rank), a naval rank
** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom
** Commodore (United States)
** Commodore (Canada)
** Commodore (Finland)
** Commodore (Germany) or ''Kommodore''
* Air commodore, a ...
Frank Bainimarama
Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama (Fijian: ʃoˈsɛia βoˈreŋɡe mbɛiniˈmarama born 27 April 1954) is a Fijian politician and former naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst ...
told the
Fiji Live
''Fijilive'' is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder.
''Fijilive'' is one of Fiji's largest websites. The site rose to ...
news service on 13 December that Musingku had contacted him several months earlier, offering
F$35 million for his cooperation with respect to "security work" in Bougainville. Bainimarama recognized the scheme as an obvious "con job", he said, and did not reply to the letter.
Problems in Tonu and in the Solomons
The
Fiji Live
''Fijilive'' is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder.
''Fijilive'' is one of Fiji's largest websites. The site rose to ...
news service had reported on 1 February that parents in the Tonu area were refusing to send their children to school because of security fears linked to the Fijian agents.
According to the
Fiji Times
''The Fiji Times'' is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating.
''The Fiji Times'' is owned by Motibhai G ...
and Papua New Guinea's
Post Courier newspaper, a group of nine armed men had raided the Puma logging camp on
Oavu Island in the
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...
on 27 January, stealing money, fuel, a boat and outboard motor, and communication equipment. This was not the first such raid, and Bougainville police were said to be investigating a possible link between these men and the five Fijian agents remaining on Bougainville.
Solomon Islands Police Commissioner
Shane Castles said on 7 February that no more former Fijian soldiers would be permitted to enter Papua New Guinea through the Solomons. ''"These people are not respecting the laws of another sovereign nation and are basically involved in illegal activities,"'' he told his Fiji
counterpart,
Andrew Hughes. His statement coincided with an admission from Fiji's
Foreign Minister
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
Kaliopate Tavola
Kaliopate Tavola (born 1946) is a Fijian Agricultural economist, diplomat, and politician, who was his country's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2006. He was also Minister for External Trade and Minister for Sugar.
Diplomatic caree ...
that his government was powerless to prevent the recruitment of former soldiers to work with foreign security firms.
Twelve arrested, eleven deported
This followed the arrest in the Solomons'
capital
Capital may refer to:
Common uses
* Capital city, a municipality of primary status
** List of national capital cities
* Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences
* Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...
,
Honiara
Honiara () is the capital and largest city of Solomon Islands, situated on the northwestern coast of Guadalcanal. , it had a population of 92,344 people. The city is served by Honiara International Airport and the seaport of Point Cruz, and lie ...
, of twelve Fijian men, all former
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
peacekeepers in the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
, led by
Rusiate Seuta (a former
Warrant Officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the mos ...
). According to
Fiji Village
''Fiji Village'' (stylised ''Fijivillage'') is an online news website in Fiji which is fully owned and operated by Communications Fiji Limited. It covers local, political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items.
''Fiji Village'' is ...
, the suspicions of Solomons' officials had been aroused by the expressed wish of the men to fly to
Buka, Bougainville, and had subsequently found irregularities on their immigration declaration forms. Police investigations discovered that the men planned to fly to
Taro
Taro () (''Colocasia esculenta)'' is a root vegetable. It is the most widely cultivated species of several plants in the family Araceae that are used as vegetables for their corms, leaves, and petioles. Taro corms are a food staple in Africa ...
, in the Solomons' Province of
Choiseul, and then illegally cross the border into Bougainville by boat.
Eleven were deported to Fiji on 7 February; one (31-year-old
Kinivuwai Vakatawanavatu Sulua) had escaped.
On the 8th, Foreign Affairs Ministry Chief Executive Officer
Isikeli Mataitoga
Isikeli Uluinairai Mataitoga is Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal of Fiji. He was appointed as a Justice of Appeal on 27 March 2023.
He was a Fijian diplomat and former Ambassador of Fiji to Japan, he was concurrently the non-reside ...
told
Fiji Live
''Fijilive'' is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder.
''Fijilive'' is one of Fiji's largest websites. The site rose to ...
that the Ministry had reported the men's activities to the police, to investigate whether they had violated any Fijian laws.
Foreign Minister Tavola revealed on 9 February that the men would be required to return in two weeks to the Solomon Islands at the expense of their recruiting agency, to answer charges against them laid by the Solomons police.
Military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
spokesman Captain
Neumi Leweni
Neumi Leweni (born 1957) is a Fijian Army officer and diplomat, who holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. He hails from the Lau Islands. He joined the Military in 1974 and by 2006 was one of two official spokesmen for the Military, the other bein ...
told ''Fiji Live'' that although they remained enlisted soldiers, any private employment contracts were their own responsibility.
Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes said that both the men and their recruiting agency were being monitored.
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand ( mi, Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa), commonly known as Radio NZ or simply RNZ, is a New Zealand public-service radio broadcaster and Crown entity that was established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news and c ...
reported that Solomons police were watching the airport and all sea ports, which searching for Sulua, who remained at large. Speaking to
Fiji Live
''Fijilive'' is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder.
''Fijilive'' is one of Fiji's largest websites. The site rose to ...
on 12 February, a relative (who requested anonymity) pleaded with him to surrender and return to his
Nasinu
Nasinu () is an urban area on the island Viti Levu in Fiji. It is officially designated a "Town" (and was formally incorporated as such in 1999) despite having a population larger than Suva City (92,043 at the 2017 Census). Nasinu is the most pop ...
home.
The same day, ''Fiji Live'' reported that Sulua had been in trouble with the law previously. In the 1990s, he had allegedly been deported from the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
while serving in the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
.
Radio Australia
ABC Radio Australia, also known as Radio Australia, is the international broadcasting and online service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Australia's public broadcaster. Most programming is in English, with some in Tok ...
reported on 13 February that Solomons police were investigating two reported sightings of Sulua in outer suburbs of
Honiara
Honiara () is the capital and largest city of Solomon Islands, situated on the northwestern coast of Guadalcanal. , it had a population of 92,344 people. The city is served by Honiara International Airport and the seaport of Point Cruz, and lie ...
.
Sulua captured
The
Brisbane Courier Mail
''The Courier-Mail'' is an Australian newspaper published in Brisbane. Owned by News Corp Australia, it is published daily from Monday to Saturday in tabloid format. Its editorial offices are located at Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner northe ...
reported on 27 February that Sulua had been arrested in
Tetere, some thirty kilometers outside Honiara. Police said they were investigating assistance given to Sulua by members of the public, including some Solomon Islanders of Fijian origin.
The third wave
Solomon Islands Police Commissioner
Shane Castles was quoted on 21 March 2006 as saying that police were aware of a Fijian company which was recruiting former Fijian soldiers and facilitating their movement through the Solomons to Bougainville.
On 20 March,
Fiji Live
''Fijilive'' is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder.
''Fijilive'' is one of Fiji's largest websites. The site rose to ...
reported Bougainville's President,
Joseph Kabui
Joseph Canisius Kabui (1954 – 7 June 2008) was a secessionist leader and the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the leader of the Bougainville People's C ...
, as saying that up to one hundred Fijian mercenaries could be on their way to the island. Speaking on Australian national television, he called on the Fijian and Papua New Guinea governments to prevent their passage.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea security official
Emmanuel Mungu said on 22 March that five Fijian were still with Noah Musingku.
Peacekeepers Association blames government
Speaking to
Fiji Village
''Fiji Village'' (stylised ''Fijivillage'') is an online news website in Fiji which is fully owned and operated by Communications Fiji Limited. It covers local, political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items.
''Fiji Village'' is ...
on 11 February 2006,
Fiji Peacekeepers Association spokesman
Taniela Senikuta blamed government policy for the illegal activities in which some former soldiers were engaged. While returned servicemen from
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
received pensions, soldiers returning from peacekeeping duties did not, he said. This made employment abroad, even in questionable ventures, attractive, he claimed.
United Nations request
Fiji Live
''Fijilive'' is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder.
''Fijilive'' is one of Fiji's largest websites. The site rose to ...
reported on 3 March that the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
had asked Fiji and Papua New Guinea to allow teams to investigative presence of former Fijian soldiers in Bougainville.
Sources
For background on Fijian private military contractors in Iraq: “Fiji, the war in Iraq, and the privatisation of Pacific island security”
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fijian Mercenaries In Bougainville
Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Politics of Papua New Guinea
2005 in Papua New Guinea
2005 in international relations
Fiji–Papua New Guinea relations