Army Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama said if the SDL Party did not take the matter to court regarding their removal from office, the 1997 constitution would still be alive today and the President would not have abrogated it.

Speaking at the Army Camp yesterday, Bainimarama also told his soldiers that they should be ready and sacrifice if the United Nations pulls Fiji out from the UN peacekeeping missions.

He said he is concerned that NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is urging the UN to take that drastic action against the Fiji government.

Bainimarama also told soldiers yesterday that he is ready to pay back the leave payout to him and other senior military officers last year after criticisms were leveled against such payments.

It was earlier reported that Bainimarama received more than $170,000 for outstanding leave.

Bainimarama told the troops that he has directed Colonel Mohammed Aziz to look into the payment.

He also warned soldiers to stop any unnecessary spending from the military forces budget and if orders are to be made from private companies it has to be done because the military needs it and not because the company needs the orders.

Meanwhile, Commodore Bainimarama has told the NZ media that he has the support of the people of Fiji.

He said he does not want the negative comments and only a few people are against what they are doing.