Military backs Police despite integrity concerns: RFMF Commander

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai says matters involving the integrity of the Fiji Police Force is an internal issue for the police to handle.

Major-General Kalouniwai made the comments while speaking to media after the official welcoming ceremony for Israel's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar, at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva yesterday.

It was put to the Commander the allegations surrounding trust issues between the two institutions stemming from allegations of corruption within the police force.

“We are working on that. That’s an internal issue for police. The army is doing its responsibility. It’s there to support the police and it’s taking care of that particular issue,” he said, pointing to the ongoing anti-drugs joint operations.

Major-General Kalouniwai admitted there were some issues that needed to be sorted in relation to the joint operations. He didn’t reveal the details.

However, he said: “It’s good. I think things are coming out pretty well.

“I’m glad that we’re working in cooperation with the police. The public is cooperating in terms of providing us with a lot of information.”

The Commander reassured the public of the military’s presence to support the police in protecting the people and preserving the peace in the country.

“We’ll be supporting the police in this particular joint operation until government says it’s clear for us to go back.”

Meanwhile, Major-General Kalouniwai said the Government had declined the invitation for Fiji to be part of the International Stabilisation Force as peacekeepers in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

However, he said Israel’s presence in Fiji signalled stronger security and defence cooperation between the two countries.

Major-General Kalouniwai is expected to meet the Israeli delegation tomorrow to discuss bilateral defence arrangements.

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