Simione Kaitani

{{Short description|Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Simione Kaitani

| honorific-suffix =

| image =

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| office =

| primeminister =

| term_start =

| term_end =

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| office2 =

| term_start2 =

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| primeminister2 =

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| office3 = Leader of the House

| president3 =

| term_start3 = May 2006

| term_end3 = 5 December 2006

| predecessor3 =

| successor3 = None (Parliament disestablished)

| office4 = Minister without portfolio

| primeminister4 = Laisenia Qarase

| term_start4 = 20 September 2005

| term_end4 = 13 May 2006

| predecessor4 =

| successor4 =

| office7 = Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation

| president7 =

| term_start7 = 16 December 2004

| term_end7 = 20 September 2005

| predecessor7 = Josefa Vosanibola

| successor7 =

| office8 = Minister of Information

| primeminister8 =

| term_start8 =

| term_end8 = 16 December 2004

| predecessor8 =

| successor8 = Ahmed Ali

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| predecessor10 =

| successor10 =

| constituency_MP11 = Lomaiviti Fijian

| parliament11 = Fijian

| term_start11 = 15 May 1999

| term_end11 = 5 December 2006

| predecessor11 = None (constituency established)

| successor11 = None (Parliament disestablished)

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| party = Christian Democratic Alliance
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua

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}}

Simione Kaitani is a former Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister in the government of Laisenia Qarase. He was tried for taking an illegal oath over the 2000 Fijian coup d'état in 2005, but acquitted. He later served as Leader of the House, until removed from office by the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.

Kaitani was first elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji as an independent candidate to represent the Lomaiviti Fijian Communal constituency in the 1999 Fijian general election, and later joined the Christian Democratic Alliance (VLV). The VLV disintegrated in the political realignment that followed the coup, but Kaitani joined the newly formed Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL), and retained his seat in the election of 2001 as an SDL candidate.{{cite web |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/f/fiji/fiji20012.txt |title=REPUBLIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 25 AUGUST TO 1 SEPTEMBER 2001 |publisher=Psephos |access-date=10 April 2023}} He was subsequently appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Information. In that role, he introduced a Media Bill in an attempt to control the media.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/143626/fiji-media-bill-called-draconian |title=Fiji Media Bill called draconian |publisher=RNZ |date=16 May 2003 |access-date=10 April 2023}}

In November 2002 he was refused a visa to travel to the USA over his alleged involvement in the 2000 coup.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/141563/a-fiji-government-minister-has-been-denied-a-visa-to-travel-to-the-united-states |title=A Fiji government minister has been denied a visa to travel to the United States |publisher=RNZ |date=4 November 2002 |access-date=10 April 2023}} In February 2003 Fijian police were reported to be considering sedition charges against Kaitani over a speech he gave to a protest march on the day of the coup.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/142405/fiji-police-considering-charging-government-minister-with-sedition |title=Fiji police considering charging government minister with sedition |publisher=RNZ |date=11 February 2003 |access-date=10 April 2023}} In July 2004 he was one of several prominent people named in the treason trial of Vice-President Jope Seniloli.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/149517/prominent-names-feature-in-fiji-treason-trial |title=Prominent names feature in Fiji treason trial |publisher=RNZ |date=8 July 2004 |access-date=10 April 2023}} In October 2004 Senator Adi Koila Nailatikau publicly accused him of involvement in the coup.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/151349/fiji-senator-held-hostage-during-speight-coup-names-alleged-coup-supporters |title=Fiji senator held hostage during Speight coup names alleged coup supporters |publisher=RNZ |date=25 October 2004 |access-date=10 April 2023}} He denied involvement.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/151358/fiji's-information-minister-denies-any-involvement-in-2000-coup |title=Fiji's information minister denies any involvement in 2000 coup |publisher=RNZ |date=25 October 2004 |access-date=10 April 2023}} The police began an investigation, and in December 2004 he was charged with taking an illegal oath.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152044/fiji's-information-minister-facing-coup-related-charges |title=Fiji's Information Minister facing coup related charges |publisher=RNZ |date=2 December 2004 |access-date=10 April 2023}} Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase announced that Kaitani would retain his portfolio despite being charged.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152050/accused-fiji-minister-to-retain-his-portfolio |title=Accused Fiji minister to retain his portfolio |publisher=RNZ |date=3 December 2004 |access-date=10 April 2023}} He was subsequently shifted to the position of Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in a cabinet reshuffle on 16 December 2004.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152351/cokanasiga-is-dropped-from-fiji-cabinet-during-reshuffle |title=Cokanasiga is dropped from Fiji cabinet during reshuffle |publisher=RNZ |date=16 December 2004 |access-date=10 April 2023}}

Kaitani was tried from June to August 2005. On 12 August 2005 a panel of assessors found him not guilty of taking na illegal oath.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/156876/assessors-find-fiji-government-minister-not-guilty-of-coup-related-charges |title=Assessors find Fiji government minister not guilty of coup related charges |publisher=RNZ |date=12 August 2005 |access-date=10 April 2023}} The verdict was confirmed by the court on 15 August 2005.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/156908/fiji-transport-minister-acquitted-in-coup-case |title=Fiji transport minister acquitted in coup case |publisher=RNZ |date=15 August 2005 |access-date=10 April 2023}}{{cite book |title=From election to coup in Fiji: the 2006 campaign and its aftermath |editor=Jon Fraenkel, Stewart Firth |chapter=The impact of the Reconciliation, Tolerance and Unity Bill on the 2006 election |last=Bhim |first=Mosmi |page=123 |year=2007 |publisher=University of the South Pacific |isbn=978-982-01-0808-0 }}

In September 2005 Kaitani was relieved of his Cabinet portfolios to make way for Conservative Alliance leader Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, who had completed a prison sentence for coup-related charged. Kaitani remained in Cabinet as a Minister without portfolio.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/157619/fiji-cabinet-minister-re-appointed-to-cabinet-after-serving-eight-month-jail-sentence |title=Fiji cabinet minister re-appointed to cabinet after serving eight month jail sentence |publisher=RNZ |date=21 September 2005 |access-date=10 April 2023}}

He was re-elected in the 2006 election{{cite web |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/f/fiji/fiji20062.txt |title=REPUBLIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 6 MAY 2006 |publisher=Psephos |access-date=10 April 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/162087/fiji's-qarase-retains-seat-as-vote-count-picks-up-pace |title=Fiji's Qarase retains seat as vote count picks up pace |publisher=RNZ |date=16 May 2006 |access-date=10 April 2023}} and appointed Leader of the House. He remained in this position until the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.