Planned attack on Chaudhry-Bainimarama

Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama believes that there are several attacks against Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry to weaken the interim government.

Bainimarama said he knows that a lot of Fijians do not like Chaudhry and even if a child trips and falls down in America or there is darkness in the world, these critics will blame everything on Chaudhry.

When questioned on whether he will take any action in relation to the allegations leveled against his Interim Finance Minister, Commodore Bainimarama said Chaudhry has written to him to take the necessary action he sees as fit and the Interim PM will decide on that action in due course.

However, Bainimarama maintains that in his view, all these things are being done to weaken the interim government and to create obstacles for them. He said this poison is being spread by some chiefs and church pastors.

Bainimarama said its always the case that if someone from outside who is not an indigenous Fijian is leading the country, these critics will turn it into a racial issue and say that they will steal the property of the indigenous Fijians.

The Interim PM also raises concern on the contents of the emails allegedly exchanged between Fiji Sun Publisher, Russel Hunter and one of the correspondents for the newspaper.

According to Bainimarama in the emails, the newspaper correspondent gives the names of a few judges who are assisting him in the stories in relation to Chaudhry and the tax allegations leveled against him.

Bainimarama also alleges that one of the media personnel with the initials DT, is also mentioned in some of the emails.

The Interim PM said this person left for Samoa on the 4th of February, 2008 according to the emails, and he also alleges that the person with the initials, DT was putting together some stories about Chaudhry with the Fiji Sun correspondent. Bainimarama said this was a planned attack against Chaudhry.