Posted on 09/15/2003 7:30:37 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Eighty former Fiji soldiers have left for Iraq to join a private armed security force.
They are the first of 485 former soldiers, all linked to the Fiji Peacekeeping and Action Trustee Association, who are expected to go to Iraq.
The former soldiers have been employed by a British firm to provide escorts, liaise with United Nations representatives and guard oil and power infrastructure.
Few details of the arrangement with London-based Global Risks Strategies International were released and the Fijian government has refused to comment on the deployment.
A former colonel and association member, Sakiusa Raivoce, organised the deployment of the former soldiers, many of whom recently served in UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.
Fiji ended its deployment in Lebanon last year after 25 years.
A paper written by Raivoce for government security officials said the deployment had bought relief to hundreds of experienced peacekeepers who were now unemployed.
"There are some political and diplomatic norms that has to be addressed and clarified and it is hoped that government will be more supportive of recruiting effort for there are a lot of benefits for the ordinary Fijians who are trying to make ends meet here in Fiji," the briefing paper said.
The Fijian Army is faced with the difficult task of finding employment for hundreds soldiers who will be phased out after the downsizing of Fiji's peacekeeping operations overseas.
Attorney General and Acting Home Affairs minister Qoriniasi Bale has refused to comment.
Great Council of Chiefs chairman and former army commander Epeli Ganilau confirmed to AFP the first group left Sunday.
The association last year was implicated in trying to remove the Fiji Military Force's commander with a petition demanding extra payments for previous peacekeeping work.
Their offices were later raided and several members were temporarily detained.
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