A legal dispute in Suva has escalated, involving a group of 5,000 former soldiers who allege that they were denied location and other ancillary allowances during their peacekeeping missions in Lebanon between 1978 and 2002. The plaintiffs assert that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) made payments to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) for distribution, which allegedly did not reach the soldiers.
Isireli Fa, the lawyer representing the former military personnel, has described a recent application by the defendants to strike out the civil action as “negligent and stupid.” The active defendants named in the case include the RFMF, the Minister for Home Affairs, and the Attorney-General. Fa contends that the allegations highlight significant potential wrongdoing, possibly categorizing the situation as “the largest fraud in the world” if substantiated.
At a recent court hearing regarding the Attorney-General’s Office strike-out application, it was argued that the claims should be dismissed due to being statute-barred and previously resolved in earlier court decisions in 2002, 2014, and 2016. However, Fa countered these arguments by referencing Section 4(7) of the Limitations Act, which he claims exempts the plaintiffs’ request for equitable relief from being statute-barred.
Fa expressed frustration at the defendants not filing a statement of defense and stressed the importance of allowing the case to move forward. The Acting Master of the High Court, Liyanage Kashyapa Wickramasekara, will issue a ruling on the strike-out motion on June 19.
This case not only addresses claims of unpaid allowances but also highlights broader concerns about accountability within military and governmental structures. As the judiciary engages with these serious allegations, there is hope that the outcry for justice can lead to greater transparency and fair resolution for all parties involved.
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