Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander has rubbished claims that he was offered a diplomatic appointment in order to give up his role as Commander of the RFMF.

“They are all lies and nothing about it is true. It is all politically motivated I think, and we do not want to be involved in it,” Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai said.

“I am here at Albert Park watching the RFMF team play their hearts out. I just got back into the country on Monday from the Maldives and its business as usual.”

The claims were widely shared on social media this week. Social media reports supposedly quoted speculations that Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama wanted to remove the Commander of the RFMF.

On Tuesday, Major-General Kalouniwai joined Prime Minister Bainimarama, Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho and other senior officers of the defence forces at Albert Park to watch the final of the Bainimarama Trophy rugby match between Navy and 3FIR.

The Navy rugby team was crowned champions again after its 23-19 win.

Maldives

Last week, Major-General Kalouniwai was part of the 15th Indo-Pacific Chief of Intelligence Conference in the Maldives, where he was among leaders in military intelligence across the Indo-Pacific.

While attending the conference, the Commander of the RFMF took part in the Maritime Security Challenges plenary session.

He joined Helene Goiran-Ponsard of France, Rear Admiral Wahyu Mujiono of Indonesia, and Colonel Ahmed Hilmy of the Maldives in the session.

Tim Doorey of the Institute for Security Governance moderated the panel discussion. Major-General Kalouniwai also took the opportunity to have bilateral discussions with Intelligence Chiefs from around the region.

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