Fiji soldiers claim pay outstanding for Iraq services [View All]

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More than 400 members of Fiji's army reserves and part time territorial forces signed up last September to help protect strategic locations in Iraq. A Fiji lawyer representing most of the soldiers, Isireli Fa, claims the man responsible for recruiting the guards, retired Colonel Sakiusa Raivoce, still owes the men thousands of dollars in pay and entitlements.

However, Colonel Raivoce says the majority of those who served in Iraq have not raised concerns about pay. "We have still in Iraq about 150 guards, so the remainders are in Fiji," he said. "Most of those who have returned - including all officers...none of the officers went to complain to Fa," he said.

Colonel Raivoce says a small group of men will not be paid their full entitlements, following disciplinary action over drunken behaviour.

A Fijian guard, Tomasi Ramatau, was shot dead in February while guarding Baghdad International Airport. The Fijian guards' involvement with the operation led to claims in Fiji that they had been employed as mercenaries.

http://www.abc.net.au/asiapacific/news/GoAsiaPacificBNP_1066992.htm