Caption:Hon Minister Kubuabola with Manu Korovulavula at the Foreign Ministry today.Photo:SUPPLIED.
Fiji’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Ratu Inoke Kubuabola was today briefed on a recent visit to Malaysia by three war veterans who served there during the Malayan Campaign of 1952 to 1956.
The three veterans, Mr Manu Korovulavula, Josefa Ramalamala and Inia Rakari, were in Malaysia to feature in a documentary organised by the Fijian Government and Malaysian authorities.
The three veterans served amongst other Fijians who died during this conflict and will tell their stories in the television documentary titled, “Back to Batu Pahat”. Batu Pahat is located in the State of Johor in Malaysia and is the site Fijian soldiers were stationed during the Malaya campaign.
Minister Kubuabola met with one of the war veteran Manu Korovulavula and was updated of their trip in Malaysia.At the same meeting, he saluted all those war veterans who fought and died for Fiji during this campaign.
He also congratulated the veterans for their efforts in trying to ensure that the world was informed about the contribution and sacrifice made by the brave Fijian soldiers.
Minister Kubuabola, one of the few who initiated this idea a few years back said that the worldmust know of the bravery of our war veterans.
While in Malaysia last week, revisiting their old campsites and the place where they had spent four years of their lives, the three war veterans realized that a lot has changed. But their memories of the place will still remain the same.
In Malaysia, they were facilitated by Fiji’s High Commissioner based there Ratu Meli Bainimarama.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Information together with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (‘FINAS’) jointly contributed towards the development and production of this feature documentary (film) and commemorative book, titled ‘Back to Batu Pahat’.
DEPTFO