Counter Revolutionary Warfare leader Shane Stevens, who was pardoned by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere in September this year, took part in the RFMF Reconciliation and Restoration service at Queen Elizabeth Barracks today.
Stevens sought forgiveness from the families of those that died at QEB during the 2000 mutiny.
@fijivillage.com Shane Stevens seeking forgiveness from the families of those military personnel that died at the QEB during the 2000 mutiny
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Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had said during the service that he asked the President to release former Prime Minister and former RFMF Commander Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho so they can be part of today's event.
It was an emotional time for the eight families, and they managed to pull themselves together and forgive Stevens for what transpired in 2000.
Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs and former Fiji military officer Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, urged the RFMF to stay true to the oaths they had taken when they joined the military.
While presenting a tabua or whale's tooth on behalf of the Government, the Vanua and the people of Fiji, Ratu Viliame says if the old and former military personnel had kept to heart the oaths they took, nothing would have happened.
He says looking at the operations of the RFMF back in the day, we had forgotten the oaths that we took in front of God, which had resulted in the discord.
He adds we had to listen to the voice of men rather than listening to God, who they had put their faith in when they started in the military.
The Chairman hopes this reconciliation and restoration program will be a new beginning for the RFMF.
Meanwhile, it was an emotional day for the eight families of military personnel who were killed at QEB during the 2000 mutiny.
They were accorded a matanigasau (traditionally seeking forgiveness) from the RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai.
Speaking to the eight families, Prime Minister Rabuka apologized to them, saying that he was the one to be blamed as he started the coup culture on 14th May 1987, when he didn't follow the laws of Fiji.
He says if he did not do what he had done in 1987, then nothing of such would have happened in 2000.
Rabuka hopes today's service will build a new bridge and new hope for the RFMF.
A representative of the eight families urged the RFMF not to be greedy and to ensure that they upheld the oaths they had taken when they joined the military force.
Speaking on behalf of the RFMF, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai says they are here to ask for forgiveness for the things that had transpired in 2000.
He says most of them have searched for answers for the past 24 years and today, the RFMF family seeks their forgiveness.
Maj. Gen Kalouniwai says this is the start of a new pathway for them as they try to steer our country back to its diplomatic state.
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