Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit (Fiji)
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The Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit or CRW was the common name for the First Meridian Squadron (F.M.S), now disbanded. It was the principle special projects group of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, and was the brainchild of former Military Commander and former Prime Minister, Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka.
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[edit] Founder
Although Rabuka was mainly responsible for his initiating the unit's existence, it is widely regarded that the unit's founding father, organizer and director was former British 22nd Regiment Special Air Service officer, Major Ilisoni Ligairi BEM, a retired SAS Permanent Staff instructor who, upon returning to Fiji for retirement after serving a 20 year stint with the 22 and 21 SAS regiments in Great Britain in 1984, was called up for service at the request of Sitiveni Rabuka to form the elite unit in 1987.
[edit] Formation
On 15 May 1987, Ligairi, given the temporary rank of captain at the time, began working on the selection of a tightly knit Close Protection Group (CPG) for tasks ranging from bodyguard and close protection mainly for Rabuka and visiting VIP personnel and intelligence gathering to specialist EOD and counter insurgency work. He modelled the new group and its concepts around the selection criteria and other elements that the SAS and other regimental units were renowned for.
As more interested soldiers applied for the challenging selection course, the unit evolved steadily under Ligairi's supervision from C.P group to C.R.W (Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit), trained with the latest techniques in Close Quarter Battle and Counter-terrorism, and tasked with being on 24-hour standby for any terrorist activity that posed a threat to the small island nation.
[edit] Operations
Most of their operations were kept a closely guarded secret. As their responsibilities increased so did their roles. By 1997 the CRW's size had increased two fold and Ligairi introduced new troops into the squadron, Air and Boat. The unit also changed its name : First Meridian Squadron. It was now a small fully fledged Special Forces group. Their training and exercises were conducted in joint with British SAS, U. S. Navy SEALs and MI6 as well as operating as a member of the newly formed PASOC (Pacific Special Operations Command). After 12 years of nurturing the unit and introducing the concept of Special Warfare, Ligairi retired from the Fiji Military Forces in February 1999.
[edit] Mutiny
The unit continued to function in its primary roles, their secrecy and profesionalism shrouded in an aura of mystique common in special forces worldwide until on the 19th of May 2000 they hit the local and world news headlines when a number of their members took the new ethnic Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his Labour-led coalition government of Fiji hostage at the Parliament of Fiji complex led by failed business entrepreneur George Speight.
The mutiny that took place at Fiji's Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva on 2 November 2000, resulted in the death of four loyal soldiers. Four of the rebels were subsequently beaten to death after their capture. A total of 42 soldiers from the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit were subsequently convicted of involvement in the mutiny.
After this incident, the unit was officially disbanded and its members dishonorably discharged. Many complained of not being paid properly by the Fiji Government for their service. [1]
[edit] Recent Events
Ballu Khan, a prominent and somewhat controversial entrepreneur of Indian descent, has employed at least eight former CRW unit members as drivers and bodyguards. This has drawn the ire of the Fiji Military and Colonel Pita Driti, the Land Force Commander, has warned Khan that if any of the soldiers cause problems for the government, the military will be "out to get him first". [2]
