The Fijian army commander who fled to Tonga after being charged with sedition says his wife has been questioned by the Fiji military.
Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, who was once the "number three man" of Commodore Frank Bainimarama who seized power in a 2006 coup, told 3News his wife was taken to the Queen Elizabeth barracks and interrogated.
She had been released, but was told she will be questioned again.
He had tried to get in touch with her and it was a "very distressing" situation, he said.
Lt Col Mara, was last week charged with sedition -- for allegedly making anti-government commnents -- and accused of trying to overthrow the regime. He was picked up by Royal Tongan Navy patrol boat last week, and has been in Tonga since.
He said he left to force a regime change accusing Fiji's self-appointed leader of being an "ignorant puppet".
"I have left Fiji to force regime change. [Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-] Khaiyum and his puppet Bainimarama must go, he said on an internet blog this week
"I would not be able to say or do anything if the regime had had their way and locked me up in Naboro [prison].
"Here in Tonga I am able to speak freely and will lead Fiji back to democracy."
Cmdre Bainimarama has declared Lt Col Mara a fugitive and accused the Royal Tongan Navy of illegally picking up him up from Fijian waters.
Fiji is seeking to extradite Lt Col Mara but Tongan law doesn't recognise sedition as an extraditable offence
Fiji authorities have told local media they will not respond to any comments on blogs or online by Lt Col Mara and that all correspondence will be government to government.
