Pita Driti
{{short description|Fijian soldier|bot=PearBOT 5}}
Lieutenant Colonel Pita Driti is a former Fijian soldier who played a prominent role in the 2006 Fijian coup d'état. He served as the Land Force Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the third most senior position in the Military.
Driti was educated at Suva Grammar School.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2010/02/08/grammar-still-going-strong-at-50/ |title=Grammar still going strong at 50 |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=8 February 2010 |access-date=26 March 2023}}
In the leadup to the coup, Driti accused the Australian government of infiltrating mercenaries into Fiji.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/165872/fiji-military-wants-more-information-on-group-of-australian-nationals |title=Fiji military wants more information on group of Australian nationals |publisher=RNZ |date=6 November 2006 |access-date=26 March 2023 }} He also demanded that Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase be investigated for attempting to remove RFMF commander Frank Bainimarama.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/166278/fiji-military-wants-pm-investigated-over-commander |title=Fiji military wants PM investigated over commander |publisher=RNZ |date=22 November 2006 |access-date=26 March 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date=}} In the aftermath of the coup he instigated a witch-hunt for critics of the military regime, who were rounded up and taken to the RFMF barracks in Suva, beaten and intimidated.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/169716/fiji-military-to-seize-and-warn-letter-writer |title=Fiji military to seize and warn letter writer |publisher=RNZ |date=8 May 2007 |access-date=26 March 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/169899/reports-of-fiji's-military-still-rounding-people-up-to-take-them-to-camp |title=Reports of Fiji's military still rounding people up to take them to camp |publisher=RNZ |date=15 May 2007 |access-date=26 March 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/169994/fiji-military-continues-detentions-in-hunt-for-bloggers |title=Fiji military continues detentions in hunt for bloggers |publisher=RNZ |date=18 May 2007 |access-date=26 March 2023}}
In June 2007 Driti was proposed for the position of High Commissioner to Malaysia.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/170549/fiji-military-top-figures-touted-for-diplomacy |title=Fiji military top figures touted for diplomacy |publisher=RNZ |date=12 June 2007 |access-date=26 March 2023}} His appointment was repeatedly delayed after Malaysia refused to accept him.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/173049/fiji's-ambassador-designate-to-malaysia-claims-political-meddling-by-new-zealand |title=Fiji's ambassador designate to Malaysia claims political meddling by New Zealand |publisher=RNZ |date=3 October 2007 |access-date=26 March 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/174559/fiji's-interim-government-finds-looking-for-suitable-candidates-for-overseas-posts-difficult |title=Fiji's interim government finds looking for suitable candidates for overseas posts difficult |publisher=RNZ |date=18 December 2007 |access-date=26 March 2023}} In September 2008 Suliasi Lutubula was appointed to the position.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2008/09/29/lutubula-is-new-high-commissioner-to-malaysia/ |title=Lutubula is new High Commissioner to Malaysia |publisher=Fiji sun |date=29 September 2008 |access-date=26 March 2023}}
In April 2009 he was made an Officer of the Order of Fiji.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/183305/fiji's-interim-prime-minister-awarded-an-honour-by-president |title=Fiji's interim prime minister awarded an honour by President |publisher=RNZ |date=25 April 2009 |access-date=26 March 2023}}
In October 2009 Driti was proposed to lead a contingent of soldiers for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/186867/fiji-land-force-commander-to-take-up-6-month-un-iraq-job |title=Fiji land force commander to take up 6-month UN Iraq job |publisher=RNZ |date=29 October 2006 |access-date=26 March 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date=}} In February 2010 the United Nations rejected the proposal on the basis that Driti was the subject of credible allegations of human rights abuse.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/188873/un-cites-human-rights-record-for-rejecting-fiji's-iraq-nominee |title=UN cites human rights record for rejecting Fiji's Iraq nominee |publisher=RNZ |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=26 March 2023}}
In October 2010 Driti and Tevita Mara were unexpectedly placed on extended leave{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/193282/two-of-fiji's-most-senior-military-men-placed-on-extended-leave |title=Two of Fiji's most senior military men placed on extended leave |publisher=RNZ |date=25 October 2010 |access-date=26 March 2023}} and replaced as Land Force Commander and 3rd Fiji Infantry Regiment commander respectively.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/193310/fiji-interim-leader-appoints-replacement-officers-to-head-military |title=Fiji interim leader appoints replacement officers to head military |publisher=RNZ |date=25 October 2010 |access-date=26 March 2023 }} In May 2011 both were charged with sedition,{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/4961666/Top-Fiji-soldiers-charged-over-plot |title=Top Fiji soldiers charged over plot |publisher=Stuff |author=Michael Field |date=4 May 2011 |access-date=27 March 2023}} and Driti was also charged with inciting mutiny.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/196942/driti-charged-with-inciting-fiji-mutiny |title=Driti charged with inciting Fiji mutiny |publisher=RNZ |date=4 May 2011 |access-date=26 March 2023}} Mara subsequently fled to Tonga, causing a diplomatic incident.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/197185/fiji's-mara-extradition-request-sent-to-tonga |title=Fiji's Mara extradition request sent to Tonga |publisher=RNZ |date=17 May 2011 |access-date=26 March 2023}} Driti was tried in November 2013, with the military regime alleging that he and Mara had plotted to remove Bainimarama from power.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/228299/trial-for-alleged-plot-to-remove-fiji's-pm-begins |title=Trial for alleged plot to remove Fiji's PM begins |publisher=RNZ |date=20 November 2013 |access-date=26 March 2023}} Despite being found not guilty by a panel of assessors,{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2013/11/26/assessors-driti-not-guilty/ |title=Assessors: Driti not guilty |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=26 March 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date=}} he was convicted of inciting mutiny.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/9443799/Fiji-official-guilty-of-plot |title=Fiji official guilty of plot |publisher=Stuff |author=Michael Field |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=28 March 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/228973/fiji-court-finds-driti-guilty-of-inciting-mutiny |title=Fiji court finds Driti guilty of inciting mutiny |publisher=RNZ |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=26 March 2023}} On 13 December 2013 he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of four years by judge Paul Madigan.{{cite web|last1=Naryan|first1=Vijay|title=Former Fiji military officer sentenced to five years prison on mutiny|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/former-fiji-military-officer-sentenced-to-five-years-prison-on-mutiny/1233188|website=Radio Australia International|accessdate=5 August 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2013/12/12/5-years-for-driti/ |title=5 years for Driti |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=12 December 2013 |access-date=26 March 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date=}} He was granted weekend release from prison in December 2017.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/12/25/driti-spends-christmas-at-home/ |title=Driti Spends Christmas At Home |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=25 December 2017 |access-date=26 March 2023}}
Following his release in February 2018 Driti made a traditional apology to Bainimarama and senior RFMF officers.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/02/13/driti-says-sorry-pm-accepts-matanigasau/ |title=Driti Says Sorry, PM Accepts Matanigasau |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=13 February 2018 |access-date=26 March 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date=}}