“The RFMF: fiction and the facts” (FT 18/11/2023)

The Sunday Times of 12 Nov. 2023 (p. 8) had a full page of  statements about the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) that I thought would have drawn passionate corrections from observant citizens of Fiji. But they did not.

     The big legitimate story and good messages on that page was all about Remembrance Day which rightly recalls the many military personnel who have lost their lives during World War I and World War II, the other military campaigns such as in Malaya, and peacekeeping in the Middle East.

     One story was Tui Labasa (Ratu Jone Qomate) expressing a “fervent desire for global peace” referring to the conflicts between Russian and Ukraine, and between Israel and Hamas with the Palestinians bearing the brunt of the brutality. All legitimate hopes all share.

     But Tui Labasa also said “Citizens of Fiji owe the disciplined forces, especially the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, a huge appreciation for keeping the peace in this country”.

      Really? Which planet has Tui Labasa been living on these last thirty six years?

     The Commander of the RFMF on the same page is reported to have commendably said “the RFMF will strive to maintain peace and stability in the country to allow the government of the day to work well.” This is good news for Fiji.

     But the Commander is also said “Fiji is a very peaceful country in contrast to the many violent overseas countries Fiji’s peacekeepers served in”. Really?

     The Hon Minister for Defence Mr Pio Tikoduadua (a former military officer himself serving under RFMF Commander then later Prime Minister Bainimarama also said “Fiji is a peace-loving nation and Fijians shared this peace to the world through the various peace-keeping missions. We can only share peace if we have it and that is the gift we give to the world and we have been at it for almost 50 years now”. Really?

     Ignorant international readers of these statements would of course take them at face value. Yet all honest observers would note that these statements are all total fiction, a sad denial of the historical reality of the violence by RFMF in Fiji since the first Rabuka coup of 1987. 

     How extraordinary that all these three honourable gentlemen (and I do mean that sincerely) declined to remind the RFMF soldiers today that their officers have several times rejected peace and dialogue in Fiji, and violently over-thrown lawfully elected governments, who were prevented from doing the work that voters of Fiji had elected them for. 

     These RFMF officer have also inflicted massive long term damage on the incomes of the poorest people of Fiji, setting us back decades, in comparison to countries like Mauritius who do not have armies.

How forget the coups of 1987, 2000 and 2006?

Those who care about peace and stability in Fiji must ask themselves, why is it that the three responsible senior citizens above can talk about the historical role of the RFMF in Fiji and neglect to mention that heinous treason was committed by RFMF soldiers in 1987, 2000 and 2006.

     I suggest every rank and file RFMF solider and officer can see that no central plotter has ever been formally found guilty of treason and punished appropriately.

     While there has never been any doubt  about who conducted the 1987 coup (Sitiveni Rabuka), he was constitutionally given immunity by both Upper and Lower Houses of the 1997 Parliament (of which I was a Member for NFP), because of his cooperation in the passage of the 1997 Constitution.

     Sadly, the truth about the 2000 coup (and 2000 mutiny) has never been formally established although George Speight has been held responsible and incarcerated till now.

      But the evidence presented to the Evans Board of Inquiry Report noted that Commodore Bainimarama had been informed about the coup plotting between some RFMF officers and failed politicians six month prior, and even 7 days before, but inexplicably failed to stop the coup by a group of CRW soldiers.

     Then while keeping PM Chaudhry and his colleagues hostage in Parliament, the salaries and rations of the CRW soldiers were maintained, and arms kept going into parliament.

     It was only when Speight revealed plans to appoint Vatu as a new Commander and Filipo Tarakinikini as Chief of Staff, that the tide turned.

     The CRW coup was put down, but Mahendra Chaudhry and his colleagues were not reinstated as government. The 2000 coup had succeeded.

     Then there followed the disastrous mutiny by some CRW soldiers who killed innocent soldiers and were then brutally put down. Five CRW soldiers not necessarily associated with the mutiny were taken by RFMF officers from custody in Nabua Police Station, and later that day tortured and killed.

     No one has ever been brought to account for this extrajudicial killing of five CRW soldiers without trial, judge or jury.

     The entire RFMF know of the senior RFMF officers responsible for these deaths. This cancer festers away in the heart and minds of the RFFMF even if no former Commander wishes to acknowledge it.

No doubts about the 2006 Coup

There is no lack of truth about the treason involved in the 2006 coup by Commander Bainimarama and the RFMF who brutally removed the lawfully elected government of the late Lai Qarase on grounds of corruption never proven.

     Bainimarama ran a military dictatorship for eight years during which he imposed the 2013 Constitution on Fiji, not through a Referendum or Parliament, but through the signature of a President he himself had appointed.

     This Constitution moreover gave Bainimarama and his accomplices complete immunity, supposedly guaranteeing that there would never be any punishment for his 2006 treason.

     How extraordinary that all a criminal has to do is to take over all the state apparatus in the country, and give themselves immunity through a constitution he himself devises.

     Till today therefore the rank and file of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces can see that no military officer or soldier has ever been punished for the crimes of treason in 1987, 2000 and 2006.

     Instead what they can see is that the coup perpetrators and their quiet accomplices have all been materially rewarded through the coffers of the taxpayers.

     That rewarding of coup accomplices applies even to some appointees of the latest Coalition Government of Sitiveni Rabuka.

What hope is there?

However sincere may be the statements of Commander Kalouniwai and Hon Pio Tikoduadua about their desire for peace and dialougue, why are they not reminding the RFMF soldiers and officers about their sad failures in the past during the coups of 1987, 2000 and 2006.

     What real hope is there for the rank and file of RFMF soldiers and officers, to obey their oaths of office to the lawful government, and genuinely maintain peace and law and order in Fiji?

     Knowing full well that there has never been any punishment for those committing treason in Fiji.