Fiji's military rejects claims it was working with NZ's SIS

Transcript

The Fiji military denies having worked with a New Zealand based spy agency to raid the Auckland home of a former Fiji government minister.

A New Zealand opposition MP, Winston Peters, claims the SIS spied on Rajesh Singh, and the Fiji regime knew about it.

He says the commander of the Fijian Land Forces, Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga, texted Mr Singh, warning him that he was about to be raided by the SIS - which he says is evidence the Fiji military have struck some kind of a deal with New Zealand.

Mary Baines reports:

(WINSTON PETERS READS) "Media have branded you as a terrorist". "There is word you could be deported". "Bro you are not worth a bullet 'cos you don't deserve it". It goes on to say "Don't worry about us, you becoming a thorn in New Zealand government". "Reality check bro, you the culprit now". "Bro we did raid you, it was New Zealand SS so ask them".

That is Winston Peters in the New Zealand parliament, reading out text messages allegedly sent by Colonel Tikoitoga to Mr Singh. But Colonel Tikoitoga told Auckland's Radio Tarana he never sent any text messages, and a search of Mr Singh's phone records will prove that.

MOSESE TIKOITOGA: That's a lie. That's a blatant lie. That's a lie. There's a very good way to prove it. If they can get Singh's telephone number and go through the records, they will see a telephone number corresponding to the email or the text message - and I can bet your bottom dollar it's not this one you're talking on.

Mr Singh says he received about 16 text messages from Colonel Tikoitoga during the raid and in the following days.

RAJESH SINGH: It's true, and it came right from the phone of Colonel Tikotoiga. I am surprised now he is says he is denying it. Then who is sending the texts? Was it a ghost?

Mr Singh says he is friends with Colonel Tikoitoga, who was trying to warn him. He says Colonel Tikoitoga is now denying the text messages because he is worried he will be in big trouble with the Fiji military.

RAJESH SINGH: He's a good friend, but now when I really think about it, he shouldn't lie, you know? He shouldn't deny it. You have to stand for the truth. If he was an honest person and goes to church and believes in the principles of Christ, can he take an oath and say he never sent those texts?

Colonel Tikoitoga says there is no information sharing between the Fiji military and the New Zealand SIS - and they only heard about the raid after it happened.

MOSESE TIKOITOGA: There is no information that we requested. It only makes sense. The New Zealand authorities were not talking to Fiji about the Fiji military in particular. Why would they now think that we work together? They've never worked with us. In fact, they don't recognise us.

Winston Peters says the text messages show the Fiji military knew about the raid and are evidence a deal has been struck with the SIS. When he asked the acting prime minister Bill English why Colonel Tikoitoga would have had that information to text, he said he had "no idea". Mr Peters says his claims are based in part on a High Court judgement over the cancellation of a New Zealander's passport, who is referred to as "F".

WINSTON PETERS: Why did the government drop its defence over this matter in a court case when one of the participants sued the minister of Internal affairs? Internal affairs dropped their defence because they knew the SIS involvement illegally was about to come out.

Mr Peters says there are plenty of unanswered questions.