{{short description|Fijian Army officer and diplomat|bot=PearBOT 5}} '''Neumi Leweni''' is a Fijian former soldier, diplomat, and civil servant, who served as spokesperson for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the military regime during the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.
== Career == In 2006 Leweni was one of two official spokesmen for the Military, the other being Lieutenant Colonel Orisi Rabukawaqa. Like other senior Military officers, Leweni was particularly outspoken in his opposition to certain policies and decisions of the Qarase government, including the early release from prison of persons convicted of offences relating to the 2000 Fijian coup d'état. He also took a vocal stand against the government's Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which proposed to establish a Commission to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the coup. This, said Leweni, would undermine the rule of law and the integrity of the Military, as the Army could then be required to readmit soldiers convicted of mutiny.
In August 2007, he resigned to take up a diplomatic post, as Military attaché to China but has since rejoined the Military and returned from his diplomatic posting to serve with the RFMF.<ref name="fijilive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.fijilive.com/news/2010/11/11/28679.Fijilive |title=Leweni returns to RFMF next week |publisher=Fijilive |date=2010-11-11 |accessdate=2011-10-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320054725/http://www.fijilive.com/news/2010/11/11/28679.Fijilive |archivedate=2012-03-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/193624/leweni-returns-to-duty-with-fiji-military |title=Leweni returns to duty with Fiji military |publisher=RNZ |date=11 November 2010 |access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref>
In January 2010 Fiji's military regime attempted to appoint him as high commissioner to New Zealand,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/3250821/Fiji-wants-controversial-figure-in-NZ |title=Fiji wants controversial figure in NZ |publisher=Stuff |author=Michael Field |date=21 January 2010 |access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref> but the appointment was rejected by the New Zealand government.
In 2016, he was appointed Chief Protocol Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was suspended in May 2018 pending investigation into an alleged visa scam.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/05/24/leweni-stood-down/ |title=Leweni Stood Down |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=24 May 2018 |access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref>
In 2019 Leweni acted as a consultant for controversial property development company Freesoul.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/09/17/development-leweni-consultant-for-freesoul-confirms-lawyer/ |title=Development: Leweni Consultant For Freesoul, Confirms Lawyer |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=17 September 2019 |access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leweni, Neumi}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:People from Lau Province Category:Fijian diplomats Category:Fijian soldiers Category:I-Taukei Fijian people Category:Fijian expatriates in China