People’s Alliance Party Leader Sitiveni Rabuka has refused to apologise to the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara’s family and the vanua of Lau for his allegations.

The traditional warrior clan of the late Tui Nayau, the bati-leka clan leader, Sisaro Temo says they are disappointed with Mr Rabuka’s claims.

Mr Rabuka who spoke on Sashi Singh’s Talking Point on Face­book, had claimed that the late Prime Minister and President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara knew and supported his 1987 govern­ment takeover.

He had said that although Ratu Mara was not an active contribu­tor to the thinking, he came as a supporter to make sure that things were going well.

At a press conference that was held at the Holiday Inn on Friday, Mr Rabuka refused to apologise when he was asked.

In an evasive reply he said that Ratu Mara never wanted an apol­ogy.

“The late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara did not ask me to apologise for the same information that ap­peared in my authorised biogra­phy.”

Mr Rabuka said Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was disrespecting the people of Fiji and denying the rights of the people to be informed when he does not respond to many issues of na­tional interest.

Lau

The people of Lau are disap­pointed with Mr Rabuka for choosing not to apologise.

The bati-leka clan leader, Mr Temo said Mr Rabuka has stooped so low and must not use the name of their late chief for his political gain.

Mr Temo had earlier called for a public apology to Ratu Mara’s family and to the vanua for his allegations.

“Please do not mix the vanua and politics because they do not go to­gether. We are disappointed with him. The tears of the vanua will not dry until he apologises,” he said.

“To make such degrading com­ments about our late chief is some­thing that is uncalled for. When he was asked about it during the press con­ference, he gave a one-line answer, and we are not satisfied with it.”

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