'They put a knife to my head': Singh breaks down in testimony
Former minister recounts robbery, family hardship, and racial violence after 1987 coup; urges survivors to speak out.
Wednesday 22 October 2025 | 18:30
Rajesh Singh during his testimony in front of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission at the Suva Civic Centre on October 22, 2025.
Photo: Kaneta Naimatau
A former Government minister broke down multiple times while recounting how he was robbed at knifepoint and watched his father lose everything after the 1987 coup.
Rajesh Singh, who served as Minister for Youth and Sports in the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) Government, testified before the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) at the Suva Civic Centre yesterday.
The 1987 coups, led by then Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, overthrew Fiji's first Indo-Fijian-led coalition government and triggered mass migration and economic hardship for many families.
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Mr Singh described how six men held a knife to his head and stole money meant for his family after the coup left them struggling to survive.
“I was walking home from work and there were six people who brought a knife and they put it on my head,” Mr Singh said.
“I had money there for mom and dad. And they took it.”
He said his father, a former minister and timber businessman, was escorted from Namosi by landowners when the coup happened and lost everything when the border was shut.
“He lost everything. But the bottom line, his life was more important than material things in life,” Mr Singh said.
The family of nine struggled without income for months. Mr Singh recalled having to sell his watch to buy food for his niece.
“We can go without food. But she couldn't," he said, breaking down while giving his testimony.
Mr Singh also witnessed violence, where he saw a woman punched and her six-month-old baby taken and placed in a rubbish bin.
"It still disturbs me," he said.
He said indigenous Fijians were swearing at the Indian community and threatening them.
“They were saying, ‘go back to India, ‘we’re going to kill you,’ ‘we’re going to take everything of yours,” Mr Singh recalled.
He encouraged other survivors to come forward and share their stories with the commission.
“Please come out and talk to the commission. This will really help people,” Mr Singh said.
Feedback: kaneta.naimatau@fijisun.com.fj
