Tikoduadua: Police remain in charge of RFMF joint operations

Joint operations between the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the Fiji Police Force are continuing, but they remain firmly under Police direction, says Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs Pio Tikoduadua.

Mr Tikoduadua said the RFMF could only participate in joint operations when they were initiated and recommended by Police.

“For any joint operations to occur, it has to be initiated and recommended by the Police,” he said.

“There is a Joint Operations Centre that is coordinating everything. They may not be doing raids and arrests, but of course they are doing things together, intelligence collation and all that stuff.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe has previously clarified that the two disciplined forces do not deploy jointly on a daily basis.

Mr Vusonilawe said combined operations were reserved for cases of national interest, while routine incidents remained the responsibility of the relevant agency.

Asked about concerns raised by families of people who died during the operations, Mr Tikoduadua said human life remained important.

“But then there is a process that's in place, the Police are investigating and I leave it at that.”

The Minister also provided an update on his daughter.

“My daughter is recovering very well and I thank everyone for their prayers and kind thoughts. Hopefully she should be back home soon.”

Mr Tikoduadua also confirmed that Exercise Bougainville, the RFMF-led national readiness drill, was continuing.

“It's a whole of Government participation, based particularly on HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief).

“The military is taking the lead in that regard, but the rest of government is there following.”