Metuisela Mua
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Metuisela Mua is former Fiji
an military officer, intelligence officer
and politician
.
He was the director of the Fiji Intelligence Services
, established by Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka
's military government in 1988, until it was disbanded by elected Prime Minister
Mahendra Chaudhry
in 1999.
He was a leading participant in the civilian coup, led by George Speight
, which overthrew Chaudhry in 2000. Mua was described during the coup as "one of George Speight's inner sanctum". He subsequently explained that his aim had been to ensure that the Constitution
was amended "to guarantee the supremacy of indigenous rights".
Following the failed coup, Mua was "interrogated and beaten [...] by loyalist soldiers and relieved of his job. He then spent five months in prison", having been "convicted of illegal assembly
and consorting with people carrying firearms in parliament". He had initially been sentenced to two and a half years in gaol.
During the 2001 general election, in which he stood as a candidate for George Speight's Conservative Alliance
in the North East Fijian Urban Communal constituency
, he stated publicly that his party would not work with an Indo-Fijian prime minister. He was not elected.
As of 2005, he was assistant general secretary of the Conservative Alliance. The party later merged into the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
.
In 2007, he was arrested on suspicion of implication in an alleged plot to assassinate interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. In March 2010, along with seven co-defendants, he was founded guilty "beyond reasonable doubt" by the five assessors of the High Court
, a verdict upheld by Justice Paul Madigan. Mua was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Metuisela Mua is former Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an military officer, intelligence officer
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
He was the director of the Fiji Intelligence Services
Fiji Intelligence Services
The Fiji Intelligence Services is a former intelligence agency of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Its official purpose is "to handle national security matters"....
, established by Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka
Sitiveni Rabuka
Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected the third Prime Minister, serving from 1992 to 1999...
's military government in 1988, until it was disbanded by elected Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
in 1999.
He was a leading participant in the civilian coup, led by George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
, which overthrew Chaudhry in 2000. Mua was described during the coup as "one of George Speight's inner sanctum". He subsequently explained that his aim had been to ensure that the Constitution
Constitution of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
was amended "to guarantee the supremacy of indigenous rights".
Following the failed coup, Mua was "interrogated and beaten [...] by loyalist soldiers and relieved of his job. He then spent five months in prison", having been "convicted of illegal assembly
Unlawful assembly
Unlawful assembly is a legal term to describe a group of people with the mutual intent of deliberate disturbance of the peace. If the group are about to start the act of disturbance, it is termed a rout; if the disturbance is commenced, it is then termed a riot.- Section 144 :Section 144 is a...
and consorting with people carrying firearms in parliament". He had initially been sentenced to two and a half years in gaol.
During the 2001 general election, in which he stood as a candidate for George Speight's Conservative Alliance
Conservative Alliance (Fiji)
The Conservative Alliance was a far-right political party in Fiji, and a member of the ruling coalition government. It was commonly known as the CAMV, a combination of the initials of its English and Fijian names...
in the North East Fijian Urban Communal constituency
North East Urban (Fijian Communal Constituency, Fiji)
North East Fijian Urban Communal is an electoral division of Fiji, one of 23 communal constituencies reserved for indigenous Fijians....
, he stated publicly that his party would not work with an Indo-Fijian prime minister. He was not elected.
As of 2005, he was assistant general secretary of the Conservative Alliance. The party later merged into the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua is a political party in Fiji...
.
In 2007, he was arrested on suspicion of implication in an alleged plot to assassinate interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. In March 2010, along with seven co-defendants, he was founded guilty "beyond reasonable doubt" by the five assessors of the High Court
High Court (Fiji)
The High Court of Fiji is one of three courts established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution of Fiji—the others being the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The Constitution empowers Parliament to create other courts; these are subordinate to the High Court, which is authorized to oversee all...
, a verdict upheld by Justice Paul Madigan. Mua was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
External links
- Image of Metuisela Mua being taken to court on December 14, 2007 for his alleged role in an alleged assassination attempt against Voreqe Bainimarama; "Check-up for plot suspects", Fiji Times, December 15, 2007
