334:
The mutiny that took place at Fiji's Queen
Elizabeth Barracks in Suva on 2 November 2000, resulted in the death of four loyal soldiers. Five of the rebels were subsequently beaten to death after their capture over their involvement in the mutiny. A total of 42 soldiers from the Counter Revolutionary
276:
Most of their operations were kept a closely guarded secret. As their responsibilities increased so did their roles. By 1997 the CRW's size had increased twofold and
Ligairi introduced new troops into the squadron, Air and Boat. The unit also changed its name: First Meridian Squadron. It was now a
311:
The unit continued to function in its primary roles, their secrecy and professionalism shrouded in an aura of mystique common in special forces worldwide until on 19 May 2000 they hit the local and world news headlines when a number of their members took the new ethnic Indian
289:
as well as operating as a member of the newly formed PASOC (Pacific
Special Operations Command). After 12 years of nurturing the unit and introducing the concept of Special Warfare, Ligairi retired from the Fiji Military Forces in February 1999.
252:
As more interested soldiers applied for the challenging selection course, the unit evolved steadily under
Ligairi's supervision from C.P group to C.R.W (Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit), trained with the latest techniques in
895:
233:
for retirement after serving a 20-year stint with the 22 and 21 SAS regiments in Great
Britain in 1984, was called up for service at the request of Sitiveni Rabuka to form the elite unit in 1987.
385:, the Land Forces Commander, has warned Khan that if any of the soldiers cause problems for the government, the military will be "out to get him first". Some ex-CRWU operators were spotted in
890:
348:
Viliame
Seruvakula of the Third Fiji Infantry Regiment in 2001 had said the creation of the CRW was not the right thing to do as the military was not trained to face their own kind.
306:
186:
241:
On 15 May 1987, Ligairi, given the temporary rank of captain at the time, began working on the selection of a tightly knit Close
Protection Group (CPG) for tasks ranging from
159:
or CRWU was the common name for the First
Meridian Squadron, the unit's formal name, which had been disbanded in 2000. It was the only tier one special forces group of the
213:
Although Rabuka was mainly responsible for his initiating the unit's existence, it is widely regarded that the unit's founding father, organizer and director was former
446:
885:
268:
At one point, a review on the unit had recommended the dissolution of the CRW in 1995 as they acted like mercenaries instead of actually conducting their duties.
302:
182:
834:
459:
533:
363:, being used for a violent solution in case that anyone "tried to do to him what he did to the Bavadra and then Mara governments in 1987."
677:
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descent, has employed at least eight former CRW unit members as drivers and bodyguards. This has drawn the ire of the Fiji
Military and
356:
Critics have said that the CRW was formed to be loyal to its commanding officers instead of being loyal to the military and the country.
511:
631:
249:
and counter insurgency work. He modeled the new group and its concepts around the selection criteria and other elements on the SAS.
28:
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160:
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205:. Its founding officer Ilisoni Ligairi had also gained notoriety alongside his unit for participating in the mutinies.
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and close protection mainly for Rabuka and visiting VIP personnel and intelligence gathering to specialist
339:
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and had defended its establishment, saying that it doesn't threaten Fiji's national security.
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342:. Many complained of not being paid properly by the Fiji Government for their service.
324:
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67:
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879:
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168:
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From Fiji to
Fallujah: The war in Iraq and the privatisation of private security.
732:
293:
They have also trained with Australian, British and New Zealand special forces.
382:
371:
852:"My new security company no threat to Fiji, says leader of coup rebel gunmen"
262:
242:
27:
392:
Six ex-CRWU officers were arrested and charged for plotting to assassinate
763:
721:
562:
Political crisis intensifies as Fiji's chiefs encourage racialist gunmen.
379:
338:
After this incident, the unit was officially disbanded and its members
335:
Warfare Unit were subsequently convicted of involvement in the mutiny.
323:
at the Parliament of Fiji complex led by failed business entrepreneur
586:
Fiji coup's secret leader a former special forces soldier: sources.
229:, a retired SAS Permanent Staff instructor who, upon returning to
327:
and Ilisoni Ligairi. Reports have been said that the decision by
281:
group. Their training and exercises were conducted in joint with
163:, and was the brainchild of former Military Commander and former
230:
178:
119:
49:
660:
State Department's report of Fiji's on Human Rights Practices.
722:
Government, Army on Collision Course in Fiji - Worldpress.org
695:"Fiji's Ilisoni Ligairi to be witness in coup court martial"
482:"Fiji military places former PM Rabuka under surveillance"
777:"Fiji military warns businessman employing coup soldiers"
460:"Fiji military denies setting up new elite special force"
396:
with one of the accused not showing up himself in court.
374:, a prominent and somewhat controversial entrepreneur of
265:
activity that posed a threat to the small island nation.
189:, as well as being accused of attempting to assassinate
531:
Accused in Fiji court over plot to kill regime leaders.
307:
Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit Court Martial, Fiji
896:
Military units and formations disestablished in 2000
261:, and tasked with being on 24-hour standby for any
187:
court martial of the renegade CRW soldiers involved
140:
130:
125:
115:
105:
97:
73:
63:
55:
45:
37:
20:
805:"Five Fijians in Bougainville members of CRW unit"
891:Military units and formations established in 1987
32:Cap badge of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
319:and his Labour-led coalition government of Fiji
331:to disband the CRW had also fueled the mutiny.
101:One squadron. Around 80 men after establishment
629:NIMACERE DIES AS MILITARY CRACKDOWN CONTINUES.
399:Ligairi had created a security company called
447:Fijian coup colonel took part in SAS blunder.
425:The main figures in Fiji's continuing crisis.
8:
733:Coup plotters still free- says militaryman.
26:
670:
668:
442:
440:
193:after he took power by overthrowing the
526:
524:
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303:Mutinies of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état
17:
886:Military units and formations of Fiji
420:
418:
416:
7:
197:that took power from Prime Minister
195:illegal, civilian, Fijian government
157:Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit
14:
574:Destruction of Democracy in Fiji.
177:The unit had gained notoriety in
161:Republic of Fiji Military Forces
110:Republic of Fiji Military Forces
857:Radio New Zealand International
832:Fiji plot accused stay in jail.
810:Radio New Zealand International
782:Radio New Zealand International
764:What's Really Going on in Fiji.
700:Radio New Zealand International
487:Radio New Zealand International
1:
81:Counter-Revolutionary Warfare
841:Retrieved 21 September 2008.
766:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
754:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
742:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
684:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
662:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
650:Retrieved 21 September 2008.
638:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
619:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
617:Logbook of 19 May 2000 coup.
607:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
595:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
576:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
564:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
552:Retrieved 22 September 2008.
540:Retrieved 21 September 2008.
518:Retrieved 22 September 2008.
449:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
434:Retrieved 19 September 2008.
359:The CRW was compared to the
912:
648:Fiji Army Mutiny Nov 2000.
389:conducting security work.
300:
181:for being involved in the
172:Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka
675:No tears over CRW deaths.
25:
738:29 February 2008 at the
837:9 November 2007 at the
591:14 October 2008 at the
514:14 October 2008 at the
462:. RNZ. 12 February 2003
430:14 October 2008 at the
401:Ronin High Risk Company
340:dishonorably discharged
203:2000 Fijian coup d'état
183:Fijian 2000 coup d'état
21:First Meridian Squadron
752:The Bainimarama Screw.
634:2 October 2008 at the
92:Unconventional warfare
680:22 March 2012 at the
367:Post-CRWU disbandment
255:Close Quarters Battle
277:small fully fledged
536:20 May 2011 at the
219:Special Air Service
185:and the subsequent
813:. 23 December 2005
703:. 9 September 2004
490:. 26 February 2007
346:Lieutenant Colonel
860:. 24 October 2005
785:. 24 October 2006
394:Frank Bainimarama
329:Frank Bainimarama
317:Mahendra Chaudhry
259:Counter-terrorism
199:Mahendra Chaudhry
191:Frank Bainimarama
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135:President of Fiji
88:Special operation
84:Counter Terrorism
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387:Papua New Guinea
361:Praetorian Guard
283:U. S. Navy SEALs
225:Ilisoni Ligairi
131:Colonel-in-Chief
78:Close protection
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106:Part of
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116:Garrison/HQ
880:Categories
407:References
383:Pita Driti
372:Ballu Khan
301:See also:
272:Operations
143:commanders
126:Commanders
352:Criticism
263:terrorist
243:bodyguard
237:Formation
221:officer,
41:1987-2000
835:Archived
736:Archived
678:Archived
632:Archived
589:Archived
534:Archived
512:Archived
466:25 April
428:Archived
380:Colonel
321:hostage
215:British
201:in the
141:Notable
46:Country
376:Indian
297:Mutiny
209:Origin
56:Branch
38:Active
605:Fiji.
223:Major
866:2011
819:2011
791:2011
709:2011
496:2011
468:2023
305:and
285:and
257:and
231:Fiji
179:Fiji
155:The
120:Suva
98:Size
74:Role
64:Type
59:Army
50:Fiji
287:MI6
247:EOD
227:BEM
882::
854:.
807:.
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697:.
667:^
523:^
484:.
439:^
415:^
174:.
167:,
868:.
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793:.
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498:.
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