An article titled “FLP president apology to the nation”, published in the Fiji Times on June 11, 1986, stated that the president of the Fiji Labour Party, Dr Timoci Bavadra, had, the day before, called on Sir John Falvey, QC, and Sir Leonard Usher to apologise to the nation for their role in the publication of the so-called “Russian Letter”.
Further, the prime minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, should do likewise, and hand in his government’s resignation, Dr Bavadra said.
Dr Bavadra was commenting on an apology given to the former Leader of the Opposition, Mr Siddiq Koya, in the Supreme Court last week by Sir John and Sir Leonard. The two offered the apology for publicising the “Russian Letter” which, purportedly signed by Mr Koya, offered to set up a Russia diplomatic mission in Fiji, among other things, if the National Federation Party won the 1982 general.
In their apology published in the Fiji Times on June 6, Sir John and Sir Leonard said they had “apologised and expressed regret to Mr Koya for their contribution to the publication of allegedly defamatory material in the ‘Russian Letter’ which was released to the media on the authorisation of the prime minister in May 1983; they accept without reservation a categorical denial by Mr Koya that he never signed the document or had any part in or any knowledge of any such document.
Dr Bavadra said it was interesting that the prime minister had reacted to the joint statement of Sir Leonard and Sir John by saying that he had referred the reference to him to his lawyers.
