‘Pakistani’ Taliban?: Fiji police investigate Taliban links
A Taliban spokesman in Pakistan told AFP five weeks ago that they “welcomed some people from Fiji” last year.
SUVA:
Fiji police said Saturday they were working with Interpol to investigate reports of Fijian militants joining the Taliban.
A Taliban spokesman in Pakistan also told AFP five weeks ago that they had “welcomed some people from Fiji” to their ranks late last year.
Although the Fiji Muslim League rejected the claims, police criminal investigation department director Luke Rawalai told AFP they were “taking this very seriously”.
He said Fijians joining the Taliban would violate the Pacific island country’s counter-terrorism laws and it would be treated as “a major crime”.
Police received information about Fijian members of the Taliban “through our sources. We are investigating through our channels overseas,” police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2013.
Fiji police said Saturday they were working with Interpol to investigate reports of Fijian militants joining the Taliban.
A Taliban spokesman in Pakistan also told AFP five weeks ago that they had “welcomed some people from Fiji” to their ranks late last year.
Although the Fiji Muslim League rejected the claims, police criminal investigation department director Luke Rawalai told AFP they were “taking this very seriously”.
He said Fijians joining the Taliban would violate the Pacific island country’s counter-terrorism laws and it would be treated as “a major crime”.
Police received information about Fijian members of the Taliban “through our sources. We are investigating through our channels overseas,” police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2013.