Verebasaga Case Going Nowhere

FijiTimesOnline reports that talks are still “underway” between the military HQ and the other branch of the military (ie. the Police) over how the investigations against the soldier who killed Nimilote Verebasaga is to proceed. You can read the full story here.

Apparently, the corruptly appointed and underqualified Bandboy cum Defence Attache, Major Neumi Lewenksy, told Fiji Times reporters “aaaaahh… the military are still talking with Police and aaaaahhh… there have been no further aaaahhhh…. developments in the case”.

I guess its fortunate for us that Lewensky answered the reporter instead of his boss Mr “Deny It” Baini Marama who would have probably have responded to the reporter like this - “Verebasaga dead? Is he dead? I don’t know anything about that? When did he die? Who told you to ask that question? Was it Helen Clarke? She’s self-destructing you know!”

Humour aside, this whole Verebasaga debacle is getting way out of hand.

The case against Verebasaga’s killer is clearly one of either murder or manslaughter - I’m betting its the former.

Verebasaga was a civilian.

The military therefore have no jurisdiction to deal wth this matter “internally” under a general court martial.

Verebasaga’s killer must face criminal prosecution in a civilian court of law - and not some military tribunal purporting to act as a independent court of justice.

It makes no difference whatsoever whether Verebasaga’s killer was wearing a military uniform at the time of the killing.

HnC legal sources say the law on this is not ambigous.

It is as they say “as clear as day”!

It should not raise any uncertainty whatsoever in the minds of the powers that be.

The question on the lips of every right thinking Fiji citizen therefore a pertinent one.

Why are the Police, the DPP and the Human Rights Commission all patiently and silently waiting for the military to decide on this matter which is beyond their legal jurisdiction to stall.

The longer we wait, the greater the chance that the evidence against Verebasaga’s killer will be eroded or lost forever and the greater the chance that he (and his superior officers) will manage to escape justice in this case.

The family of Verebasaga need some closure on the death of their son.

The people of Fiji need some closure on the question of whether the law still means anything in Fiji.

And the rank and file in the military need some closure on the question of whether they are Gods or mere men.

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