Peceli Rinakama

Peceli Rinakama is a former politician in Fiji. He served as a member of the Parliament of Fiji from 1999 to 2001.

2000 coup and aftermath

Rinakama was elected to Parliament in the 1999 election, representing the constituency of Naitasiri for the Fijian Association Party. During the 2000 Fijian coup d'état, he joined the Cabinet of George Speight. As a result, he was refused entry to New Zealand in 2003 due to his involvement in the coup.[1] Following the coup, he switched his allegiance to the Conservative Alliance, but failed to win re-election in the 2001 election.

In 2003, he alleged that the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT) party was behind the 2000 coup, and that it had plotted to overthrow the government of Mahendra Chaudhry even before it took office.[2] Shortly afterwards he was charged with taking an unlawful oath for purporting to join Speight's Cabinet,[3] and in 2004 he was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment.[4] He was granted early release for good behaviour in December 2005, having served half his sentence.[5]

In 2005 it was alleged that Rinakama had benefitted from a US$13 million fraud in the agriculture ministry in 2001.[6]

Assassination plot

In November 2007, Rinakama was one of ten people arrested and charged with conspiring to assassinate Fijian dictator Frank Bainimarama.[7] All charges against him were withdrawn in December of that year.[8]

Disappearance

On 5 March 2010 Rinakama was abducted by soldiers from a house in Suva. He has not been seen since, and there are fears he has been disappeared.[9][10]

On 11 March 2010, the Fijian government admitted that Rinakama was in custody, though they would not say where or what for.[11] On 12 March, they claimed he had been released.[12] Despite this, he has not been seen by family or friends, and there are significant fears for his safety.[13]

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References
  1. "New Zealand government denies Fiji Senator entry to New Zealand". Radio New Zealand International. 2003-03-03. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  2. "Former Fiji MP says SVT Party was behind the overthrow of the Chaudhry government". Radio New Zealand International. 2003-03-10. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  3. "Fiji vice president faces coup related charges". Radio New Zealand International. 2003-05-08. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  4. "Fiji vice-president Seniloli jailed". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-08-06. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  5. "Fiji pair convicted for usurping government in 2000 freed from jail". Radio New Zealand International. 2006-12-16. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  6. "Fiji agriculture ministry scam helped prominent locals". Radio New Zealand International. 2005-09-21. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  7. "10 people charged over alleged Fiji assassination plot". Radio New Zealand International. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  8. "Rinakama a free man". Fiji Times. 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  9. "No trace of Fiji politician Rinakama seized by military". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  10. "Army detains Rinakama". Coup 4.5. 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  11. "Fiji police say missing politician Rinakama is in custody". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  12. "Fiji police say Rinakama free after five days in custody". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  13. "No sureties about Rinakama's release". Coup 4.5. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
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